Are food safety standards different from other food standards? A political economy perspective

Abstract

This paper uses a political economy model which integrates risk to analyse whether the nature of public food standards [food safety standards, food quality standards, and social and environmental standards] affects the politically optimal level of the standard and the likelihood of trade conflicts. In general, public food safety standards are set at higher levels because stronger consumption effects translate into larger political incentives for governments. The relationship between food standards and protectionism is also affected by the nature of the standards. Oxford University Press and Foundation for the European Review of Agricultural Economics 2009; all rights reserved. For permissions, please email journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org, Oxford University Press.