D2.3. Database and infographics on standards rapprochement: STCs and the bilateral measure of distance on pesticides and antibiotics

The lack of harmonization in trade standards may act as a serious barrier in international trade. According to the F2F strategy, EU imports must comply with EU higher standards on pesticides and veterinary drugs although respecting WTO rules. This deliverable will develop an innovative measure of distance in terms of Maximum Residual Level (MRLs) with regard regulations on pesticides, based on an adjusted bilateral distance that will include all registered substances regulated at worldwide level for a specific product but, in addiction to what is already available in the literature, being a bilateral measure of distance, it has the advantage of considering the stringency and the difficulties of the exporting country to access the foreign market. The measure will consider not only MRLs but also the number of substances authorized in each country. The task will also develop a new measure of distance in veterinary products regulations for animal production. This measure will be based on the divergence of national regulations on veterinary products with regard to the type and the quantities of allowed substances and will be able, in particular to focus on antibiotics use in livestock production addressing then the global threat represented by antimicrobial resistance. In order to identify potential problems that standards and their implementation pose for trade, as perceived by trading partners the task will provide an updated analysis of Specific Trade Concerns (STCs) submitted to the WTO. The analysis of selected law cases will be an important input for the discussion of WTO modernization in D2.4.