Consumer preferences and the international harmonization of organic standards |
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Authors: | Erin N. Sawyer William A. Kerr Jill E. Hobbs |
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Affiliation: | aDepartment of Agricultural Economics, University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Dr., Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 5A8;bEstey Centre for Law and Economics in International Trade, Suite 820, 410 22nd Street, E., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, SK, Canada S7K 5T6 |
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Abstract: | Harmonization of technical standards is often advocated as a means to remove technical barriers that reduce the welfare gains available from international trade. Organic standards are not currently harmonized internationally. If domestic organic standards reflect consumer tastes, and consumers have strong preferences for those standards, then harmonization to a common standard may reduce the benefits consumers receive from organic products. Through a consumer survey, conjoint analysis was used to explore the preferences of consumers in the US, the UK and Canada for organic food. The results suggest that consumers in the three countries do not have a strong attachment to the current national organic standards and that international harmonization may be a legitimate food policy goal. |
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Keywords: | Conjoint International harmonization Organic Standards Trade |
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