Introduction to Food Regulatory Affairs (FRA)

Stakeholders of EU law

consumers, regulators, FBOs and scientists

How many people does the EU food and drink industry emply

4.7 million

How much turnover does the EU food and drink industry see

1.2 billion

How much household expenditure is spend on food and drinks in the EU

21.8%

How does science relate to modern fra

innovation, measurement, medicine

How does policy relate to modern fra

economics, social needs, politics

How does law relate to modern fra

trade, safety, liability, enforcement

why is food regulation necessary

historical reasons, modern technology, food safety

What will be the population in 2050

9.7 billion

How much will global food production have to increase by 2050

50%

How did food regulation originate

The earliest record of food law was to do with food fraud where the king of England passed a law prohibiting adulteration of bread. In the middle ages this was added to with water added to wine, cream skimmed from milk etc.

How was food regulation tested in the middle ages

Middle ages craftsmen served as both manufacturer and inspector. They tested to protect consumers from poor quality and overly expensive food products.

What did frederic accum say in 1820 in regards to food regulation

He wrote a book about how people add fake or harmful stuff to everyday foods to make more money and how to detect when a food has been altered and also how there should be enforcement on this

What happed in France AD 944-40,000

People died of ergot poisoning

What happed in AD 857

A plague spread which caused swollen blisters, rotting skin and eventually people lost limbs and died

What happened in America in 1906

Upton Sinclair released a book called the Jungle which detailed how sausage that had been rejected from Europe would be re-made for Americans. If it fell on the floor it was added back in, there was leaky roods and thousands of rats

When was the first national laws published for protection of health in Britain and Ireland

1860

When was the first national laws published for protection of health in China

2007

When was the first national laws published for protection of health in USA

1938

When was the first national laws published for protection of health in Malaysia

1983

What are the main objectives of food laws

Protect public health, protect against fraud, assure fair trade and inform the consumers

What are some limitations of food laws

Historic differences e.g. Europe has issues with adulterate bread but other countries did not so regulation on that may seem excessive

Differences in cultures and food habits e.g. in France raw cheese like Brie is common but in other countries pasteurized products are the norm and regulation reflects that

Laws when translated my lead to different meanings e.g. adulterate could mean lower quality or dangerous to health

Non-tariff barriers to trade e.g. in some countries chocolate has to have a certain amount of cocoa butter purity and other countries dont have that

How many member states are there in the EU

27

Who was the man behind the start of the EU

Jean Monnet

When and where was the first international treaty establishing the EEC signed

Rome in March 1957

What was the objective of the Rome Treaty

Closer union of the peoples of Europe specifically economically

What was Monnet's philosophy

Political progress through concrete economic achievements

What was the basic principle of the EEC

Member states shared sovereignty in specified areas on the basis of common rights and obligations

What countries made up the EEC at the very beginning

France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg

When were all tariffs amongst Member States eliminated

1968

When did Ireland join the EC

1973

Who joined the EC at the same time as Ireland

Denmark and the UK

When did the EC become the EU and what was the treaty called

From 2007-2009 and it was the Lisbon treaty

What act was established in 1986 and what did it go on to do

The Single European Act, established a Single Internal Market in 1992 and established EC Regional, Social and Environmental policies

What act was established in 1991 and what did it go on to do

The treaty of Maastricht and it established a single currency by 1999 and began process to establish Common Foreign and Security Policy and EU policies in Justice and Home Affairs areas

What act was established in 1997 and what did it go on to do

The treaty of Amsterdam and it strengthened EU policies particularly in Justice and Home Affairs, Consumer Protection & Public Health

What act was established in 2001 and what did it go on to do

The treaty of Nice and it reformed structure of EU to allow for eastward expansion

What did the treaty of Lisbon amend

the EU's two core treaties, the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community

What specifically did the treaty of Lisbon change

Established the EU presidency, changed the majority voting system and gave more power to the European Parliament and European Council

When was the treaty of Lisbon signed

December 2007

When did Ireland approve the treaty of Lisbon

October 2009

In the EU what is the primary legislation

Treaties

In the EU what is the secondary legislation

Regulations, directives and recommendations

What are the three main institutions in the EU

European Commission, European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union

What is the European Commission

A politically independent body that upholds the collective European interest

What is the European Parliament

Elected institution members with seats allocated roughly according to their population, represent the citizens

What is the council of the European Union

Institution in which the relevant ministers (foreign, economic, agriculture, finance, etc.) of each member state meet to enact legislation and reconcile national interests. Represent the member states

What effect does a directive have in a Member State

None until it is transposed by the Member State

What effect does a regulation have in a Member State

Immediately applicable by all Member States

What effect does a decision have

It is addressed to a specific recipient

What is a recommendation in this context

Suggests a line of action but is not binding

What is an opinion in this context

Allows institution to make a statement in a non-binding way. Can inform legislation.

Did the treaty of Rome mention consumer protection or public health

No

When was the first EU food directive introduced and what was it on

1962 on additives

When was the first EU food law introduced and what was the case

1979 and it was found that a food product in this case Cassis de Dijon marketable in 1 member state is marketable in all member states, so in France it was being marketed as an alcohol but Germany did not agree with this as it only contained 16% alcohol and there was limit was 25% however it was harmonised