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Abstract
The extent to which food safety standards negatively affect the ability of firms in developing countries to export to the markets of developed countries depends on their approach to compliance. A case study of Guyana’s fish export industry tests this hypothesis. The analysis generally reveals a defensive/reactive approach by exporters, which has resulted in an erosion of their ability to export to some markets and their inability to gain access to others. However, firms can sustain market access and enhance their competitiveness in the long term if they adopt a more proactive approach to compliance with food safety standards.