Eco-labelling and international trade

Concern with the environment is growing among the public. One manifestation of this is the desire of consumers to be informed about the environmental characteristics of the products they purchase. A well-known instrument to provide this kind of information is eco-labelling. Although an expanding activity, eco-labelling has also raised a range of complex questions, such as its impact on international trade, its ability to contribute to environmental improvement, and its consistency with international trade rules. This volume attempts to place the issues surrounding eco-labelling in perspective by focusing on the main eco-labelling programmes in operation and by assessing their impact on some specific product groups. The book, which is largely based on primary information and benefits from the contributions of the leading experts on the issue, offers a unique perspective of the linkages between eco-labelling and international trade from the point of view of developing countries and provides recommendations on how to ensure an effective and equitable framework for eco-labelling.