The European agro-food system in the outlook of the adoption of transatlantic trade and investment partnership

European Union (EU) together with the USA is engaged in the definition of an international negotiation called Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). When completed, the negotiation should lead to the elimination of tariffs and reduction of non-tariff barriers. It is not easy to manage this problem as EU and USA have a different legislative approach on critical themes such as food security and environmental safeguarding. It is therefore evident that the agreements on non-tariff barriers products will be through a mutual recognition rather than the standardisation of regulations. This means that producers operating in systems with more stringent regulations will have highest production costs and less competitiveness. The risk of a modification of European regulation is concrete even if, at present, EU wants to maintain the current level of guarantee.