1.

Record Nr.

UNISA996208954003316

Autore

van der Meulen Bernd

Titolo

Private food law : governing food chains through contract law, self-regulation, private standards, audits and certification schemes / / edited by Bernd M.J. van der Meulen

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Wageningen, : Wageningen Academic Publishers, 2011

Wageningen, The Netherlands : , : Wageningen Academic Publishers, , 2011

©2011

ISBN

9789086867301

9789086861767

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (436 pages) : illustrations, charts

Collana

European Institute for Food Law series, , 1871-3483

Disciplina

344.2404232

Soggetti

Food law and legislation - European Union countries

Food - European Union countries - Safety measures

Food adulteration and inspection - Law and legislation - European Union countries

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Sommario/riassunto

Since the turn of the Millennium, world-wide initiatives from the private sector have turned the regulatory environment for food businesses upside down. For the first time in legal literature this book analyses private law initiatives relating to the food chain, often referred to as private (voluntary) standards or schemes. Private standards are used to remedy flaws in legislation in order to reach higher levels of consumer protection than the ones chosen by the EU legislature and to manage risks and liability beyond the traditional limits of food businesses. We see that litigation is no longer solely framed by legislative requirements, but ever more by private standards such as GlobalGAP, BRC, IFS, SQF and ISO. These private standards incorporate public law requirements thus embedding them in contractual relations and exporting them beyond the jurisdiction of public legislators. This book also addresses how private standards play a role in defining specific



markets of growing importance. It is noted that organic standards have found an interesting symbioses with public law. Another development on this topic is that food businesses are inspected more often by private auditors than by public inspectors. Effects in terms of receiving or being denied certification far outweigh public law sanctions. In short private law has changed an entire legal infrastructure for the food sector. It emerges as competing with the public law regulatory infrastructure. This book is of interest to all who concern themselves with food law legislation and litigation and the evolving role of private standards on changing the landscape of food chains and innovation.