LAW-12306 Legal Regulation and Management of Production Chains

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

Dutch

Assumed knowledge on:

Connecting courses: Law, Policy and Governance; Law and public power; Law and legal complexity in relation to natural resources; Food Law, Globalization and governance; advanced course in: Communication, technology and policy.

Contents:

The subject matter of this course are those dimensions of law that make possible some degree of ordering and steering of consumer-oriented production chains. The major actors in and around the production chain - producers, consumers, and government authorities possess different degrees of control. Legal relationships in the production chain are primarily determined by producers and consumers. The government mainly plays a facilitating role by providing contract law and business law. These dimensions of law show how a consumer oriented production chain is legally structured. Aside from playing a facilitating role, nationally and internationally governing authorities also have a steering role by means of legal instruments. In the public interest, the government restricts the freedom of producers and consumers by including mandatory provisions in private law and by enacting statutory rules in public law. In this course we will pay attention to both the possibilities and the limitations of such legal ordering of production chains. We will discuss both the traditional 'command and control' type of government regulation and the more recently emerging forms of conditioned self-regulation like certification.

Learning outcomes:

The student will have insight in the basic principles of law for the triangular relationship between producer, consumer and government. He is able to find and apply the relevant sources of law to relations within this relationship.

Activities:

In this course students will study the literature, attend and participate in the lectures / meetings, and make a number of assignments.

Examination:

Students will make a written examination. Students who have regularly attended the sessions and made the assignments will be given a premium point (see the course handout).

Literature:

A reader and a course handout are available at the secretariat of the Law and Governance Group.