The article concludes with a detailed description of the issues surrounding the importation of Mexican avocados to the United States, and a few general suggestions on international cooperation and coordination. The definition of technical barriers to trade in the opening discussion should be expanded. This definition of technical barriers omits a class of technical barriers required and handled by governments that address quality concerns. In the United States, agricultural quality standards are primarily voluntary, but many countries regulate and legislate the protection of agricultural products and food quality. Countries have mandated shelf-life restrictions for food safety and quality concerns.
Countries also regulate grain quality and standards.
Two agencies within USDA are responsible for handling foreign countries' quality concerns with U.S. agricultural products. The Agricultural Marketing Service handles foreign quality regulations for U.S. fruits and vegetables exported to foreign countries. The Grain Inspection and Packers and Stockyards Association addresses grain quality concerns voiced by foreign governments and companies. Following the opening definition, Bredahl and Holleran provide one method to categorize technical barriers for food. I think the cited categorization is a misleading system for organizing technical barriers because it does not make the clear distinction between regulatory goals, targets, and methods.