Food Safety Legislation
Food safety legislation is a set of laws and regulations that govern the handling, preparation, and storage of food. These laws are designed to protect consumers from foodborne illness and to ensure that food is safe to eat. Food safety legislation varies from country to country, but in general, it covers the following areas:
• Food labeling and advertising
• Food handling and preparation
• Food storage
• Food safety inspections
• Food recalls
In order to comply with local food safety legislation, it’s important your business has some kind of food safety management system in place.
Food safety legislation in the EU
The European Union (EU) has a number of food safety laws and regulations in place to protect consumers and ensure the safety of food products. These laws cover a wide range of topics, from food labeling and advertising to food production and processing.
The EU's food safety legislation is designed to protect consumers from risks to their health and to ensure that food products are safe to eat. The laws also aim to ensure that food businesses operate in a fair and competitive environment.
The EU's food safety laws are enforced by the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and national food safety authorities in each EU member state.
Food safety legislation in North America
In the United States, food safety legislation is primarily governed by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The FD&C Act gives FDA the authority to oversee the safety of most foods, except for meat, poultry, and eggs, which are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
In addition to the FD&C Act, there are a number of other laws and regulations that govern food safety, including the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) regulation, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), and the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA).
The HACCP regulation requires food companies to develop and implement food safety plans that identify and address potential hazards throughout the food supply chain. The FSMA is the most sweeping reform of food safety laws in over 70 years, and it gives FDA new authority to help prevent foodborne illnesses. The FALCPA requires food companies to label products that contain major food allergens, and it prohibits companies from using misleading labels on food products.
In Canada, the food safety laws are governed by the Food and Drugs Act. This Act sets forth the requirements for food manufacturers, food distributors, and food retailers to ensure that the food they sell is safe to eat. The Act also establishes the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) as the agency responsible for enforcing these food safety laws.