We provide an ex-post econometric examination of the harmonization and tightening of the EU Maximum Residues Limit (MRL) on aflatoxins in 2002, and its impact on African exports of groundnut products. We show that the MRL set by the EU has no significant trade impact on groundnut exports from...

Note April 9, 2012: we found an error in the program calculating the commodity scores. We are holding the working paper temporarily and will be posting a corrected paper soon. The authors.We propose aggregation indices of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) to quantify their protectionism relative to...

Food safety standards have proliferated as multilateral and bilateral trade agreements constrain traditional barriers to agricultural trade. Stringent food standards can be driven by rising consumer and public concern about food safety and other social objectives, or by the lobbying efforts from...

We propose aggregation indices of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) to quantify their protectionism relative to international standards. We apply the indices to national Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) regulations affecting agricultural and food trade and using a science-based criteria embodied in Codex...

Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) on pesticides and veterinary drugs in plant and animal products are established to promote food safety and animal and plant health. In practice, however, they are often accused of creating unnecessary trade barriers. The controversy is more prominent when a given...

Abstract: Maximum residue levels (MRLs) regulations in plant products can createunnecessary trade barriers on one hand and enhance demand via risk mitigation or qualityassurance on the other. We stipulate a generalized gravity equation model to disentanglethe effects of MRLs on the import demand...