Legal Structures of Food Safety in Europe

Abstract

In view of the rapid increase in the globalisation of the economy, assuring food safety within the European Union is a challenge. The range and variety of foods on offer in Europe continue to rise steadily. The demands not only on food companies but also on the European Union and its member states grow, that food risks should be scientifically assessed, minimised and communicated in a way that can be easily understood. Private, as well as criminal and public law aspects have to be considered, especially in possible crises. The structures of and responsibilities for the public law tasks of EU institutions and on the level of the Member States and even within the Member States themselves are often not sufficiently well known. This results in confusion and accusations in times of crisis and a duplication of efforts and negative competence conflicts in times of peace and quiet. The “EU Food Safety Almanac” published by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, BfR) is intended to help to perceive responsibilities in food safety in a proper manner. It provides an overview of the structures of food and feed safety within the Member States and the European Union. In doing so, it becomes clear how food safety is organised and implemented differently within the scope of the constitutional and administrative law of 35 respective countries.