Environmental, health and sanitary requirements in developed countries are sometimes perceived in developing countries as non-tariff barriers to trade. This book shows that such restrictions are perceived to be more stringent during the domestic production season or when stock levels are high. The authors argue that scientific data for specific thresholds or limit values sometimes appear to be questionable and that they vary widely between countries. In some cases, products that had initially been refused access to a domestic market have subsequently been allowed access but at a lower price. Thus, standards are perceived to be a mechanism for bidding down the export price. Countries from the same region with similar water or climatic conditions may be subject to differential degrees of SPS measures. Measures to address protectionist aspects of standards must be devised to ensure free and fair trade.
Author(s): Veena Jha
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 232
Contents......Page 6
Acknowledgements......Page 7
List of contributors......Page 8
List of abbreviations......Page 9
Preface......Page 11
1. Introduction......Page 14
2. Environmental and Health Regulations......Page 27
3. South Asia......Page 52
4. Costa Rica......Page 83
5. Eastern and Southern Africa: the Experience of Kenya, Mozambique, the United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda......Page 116
6. Organic Agriculture......Page 158
7. Summary and Conclusions......Page 189
8. Ways Forward......Page 215
A......Page 234
C......Page 235
D......Page 236
E......Page 237
I......Page 238
K......Page 239
N......Page 240
P......Page 241
S......Page 242
T......Page 243
U......Page 244
Z......Page 245
