The California citrus industry is a $1.5 billion industry that exports approximately 30 percent of its production. Moreover, revenue from exports represents approximately 40 percent of total sales revenue. Without strong export markets the California citrus industry cannot thrive. However, with recent liberalization of global tariffs chemical residue issues and phytosanitary regulations have become the dominant barrier to trade in citrus fruits and other specialty crops. This presentation will explain the critical role of maximum residue levels (MRLs) in facilitating trade of citrus and other export-oriented specialty crops and how cooperative efforts among specialty crop commodity organizations, registrants, and regulators can work together to provide important crop protection tools for growers and facilitate trade. Symposium participants outside the agricultural sphere may be interested in using this regulatory approach as a template for structuring regulatory-problem solving in other fields.

US citrus industry perspective on MRLs and trade

246th National Meeting (2013)

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