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The Issues:
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The past decade has witnessed a growing demand
for environmentally sound products in industrialised countries. Environmental
NGO campaigns and the media have largely contributed to developing environmental
awareness among consumers. Also, recent food scandals have alerted consumers
to health and environmental issues.
This growing environmental awareness in industrialised countries may
create export opportunities for environmentally preferable products
produced in developing countries, such as organic products, non wood
forest products (e.g: nuts, essential oils), natural fibres and others.
Environmentally preferable products can represent substitutes to products
existing on the market due to their intrinsic nature or due to their
environmentally preferable production methods or product characteristics.
In order to differentiate environmentally preferable products from conventional
products, environmental claims are generally made through product labelling.
Various types of environmental labels and certification programmes have
been developed which respond to different criteria.
Although some developing countries have recently expanded their exports
of several products with environmental and health attributes and have
profited from changes in consumption patterns in developed countries,
the challenge is now to increase the number of developing countries
enterprises that can turn this potential into practical financial, social
and environmental gains. However, realizing these benefits will mean
facing up to a number of challenges and constraints. These include insufficient
access to information, a lack of financial support, lack of knowledge
and experience in the export business, lack of government support for
product promotion and technology dissemination; and, absence of adequate
national infrastructure
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