This work debates and investigates the the cross-compliance system: where farmers comply with certain standards relating to the environment, food safety and animal and plant health. It discusses cross-compliance in the context of existing standards, on-farm costs and the competitiveness of farm businesses. Analyzing the economics of regulation both within the internal market of the EU and the broader world market by examining a broad range of agricultural products, this resource will be of value to agriculture and resource economists, policy makers, researchers and students in environmental and agricultural policy and modelling.