THE IMPACT OF APPLYING THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY STANDARDS ON COMPETITIVE ABILITY OF AGRICULTURAL EXPORTATIONS AN APPLICATION ON THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR OF THE SUEZ CANAL GOVERNORATES

The research aims to study the effect of the application of environmental quality standards on the agricultural exports competitiveness. This was done through the identification of the most important quality standards, food hygiene, its classification and its impact on international trade. The researcher reviewed the most important concepts about food quality and the most important agreements, standards and systems concerned with food control. Also, the identification of the most important environmental standards of the European Union was done. It was clarified the concept of competitiveness, its types, determinants, stages and methods of measurement and the relationship between environmental quality standards and competitiveness.
Then the researcher clarifies competitiveness of Egyptian agricultural exports and its current international situation. Also, he analyzes the quality cost and its impact on product competitiveness. PAM for subject crops was done with analysis of the competitiveness of the most important export crops indicators (peanuts, oranges, green beans) in the Suez Canal district.
The field study has been conducting on companies in the field of agricultural crops exportation. So, the study was divided into two parts (companies corporate quality standards / companies are not corporate environmental quality standards). This was done to study the effect of the successful application of environmental quality standards on companies worked in the field of agricultural exportation and its impact on the competitiveness ability
First: The study population and sample:
Researchers obtained a list of companies operating in the export of agricultural products and the sources of this data were: Quarantine department in Ismailia, Marketing Department of Agricultural Directorate in Ismailia. Two companies were selected jointly which are specializing in crops under study (peanuts, oranges, green beans). The first community was the companies that implement environmental quality standards and the second community of companies that do not apply the environmental quality standards. The study was limited to Ismailia governorate without the rest of other Suez Canal governorates due to the unavailability of data on the economic performance of agricultural foreign trade for these governorates, in addition to the agricultural character which characterizes the economic activity in Ismailia compared to the rest of the Suez Canal governorates.
Second Methodology of the study:
This study is based on descriptive analytical method where the researcher was adopted at the sample collection on intentional sample pattern which was taken from the companies applied the standards of environmental quality and those are not. The researcher conducts personal interviews with directors of quality and export departments to collect data by questionnaire to consolidate the search results.
Methodological procedures for the search: questionnaire designing then determine research sample. The researchers prepare an inventory of all the companies that are exporting crops under study.
The third step: the data were collected from 22 companies which were committed to adopting environmental quality standards of the total number of 25 companies and factory.
Third study result:   
SOWT analysis refers to many opportunities and strengths for the activity of foreign agricultural trade which can be accessed to export a unique place globally. Also, some of the weaknesses and threats may affect the export process, which can be overcome through solidarity between the companies and the country.
Fourth Study Recommendations:
The interest in research and development activities aimed at improving the Egyptian agricultural product and enhances its competitiveness in foreign markets quality, through the establishment of a special fund for research and development in which both the government and the private sector contribute to foreign aid and to improve the capacities of research centers, development and deepening of technological capabilities