"The Guatemalan raspberry industry began exporting to the United States in the late 1980s, filling a market niche in the spring and fall when supplies were low. By 1996, Guatemalan raspberry exports were increasing rapidly, up 113 percent from the previous season. That spring and early summer,...

"Mycotoxins are toxic chemical compounds produced by molds, which can have important consequences in human and animal health... The economic consequences of the presence of mycotoxins in food, feed, and agricultural crops can be severe. In fact, mycotoxins jeopardize the safety and availability...

"Food safety issues have attracted international attention because they play an increasingly important role in determining whether developing countries have access to export markets.At the same time, food suppliers in developing countries face the challenge of improving food safety for their...

"Production and export of horticultural products are increasing rapidly in many developing countries... Rapid growth in horticultural production has been accompanied by heavy use of pesticides and by heightened concern over health effects associated with pesticide use and abuse...The three...

"While not trade measures per se, food safety regulations and standards can impede trade and significantly affect the ability of developing countries to access markets, particularly in industrialized countries. In part, this reflects the growing use of these measures globally in response to the...

"...At the moment, a lack of integration and coordination characterizes the relationship between the agriculture and health sectors. Traditionally, agricultural and health policies address specific goals within those sectors. Agricultural policies address conservation of the natural resource...

"Food safety is affected by the decisions of producers, processors, distributors, food service operators, and consumers, as well as by government regulations. In developed countries, the demand for higher levels of food safety has led to the implementation of regulatory programs that address...

"In the developing world the approval and cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops is largely limited to the commercial production of insect-resistant cotton in Argentina, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa.... Approvals of GM crops used for food or feed lag far behind cotton... This...

"Mycotoxins are produced by fungi, commonly known as mold. These toxins can develop during production, harvesting, or storage of grains, nuts, and other crops. Mycotoxins are among the most potent mutagenic and carcinogenic substances known. They pose chronic health risks: prolonged exposure...

"As awareness grows about food safety issues, the need for countries to provide greater assurance about the safety and quality of food also grows....This brief reviews (1) how India utilizes the international framework for food safety standards set forth by the Codex Alimentarius Commission...