Abstract

Internal European Market and World Trade Organization, the two main institutions regulating the international trade of agro-alimentary products, are analyzed. The recent controversy on Measures Concerning Meat and Meat Products (Hormones) between EC at one side, and US and Canada at the other, is described, and the new trends emerging in the present situation are discussed. The conclusion is that certification procedures can act as a reasonable compromise between opposite interests, but the road to conflict solution resides in mutual recognitions of standards and scientific criteria.