This article identifies the diversity in food safety requirements by comparing the food legislation and business policies for meat exports to the USA and the European Union. Differences in safety requirements impact the competitiveness of the European food industry. Institutional, supply chain, business and product specific requirements are described. The article shows that the underlying principles and procedures for preserving safety of imported meat are quite similar, although vertical product standards are different. Differences not only affect compliance costs, but also prospective mending (repair and retribution) costs. It is shown that opposite effects of the two cost categories at higher safety levels can lead to different desired action by private parties compared to national authorities. Differences in consumer perception and business policies compared to public regulatory standards (as is the case with hormone-use in the production of meat) can be addressed by means of enforced compliance efforts but could also lead to behavioural adjustments because of expected mending costs. Both could provide the same economic equilibrium and welfare.