LAW-30806 Food Law

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

Prior legal background is not a prerequisite for participation in this course, although it is, of course, welcome.
Legal Regulation and Management of Production Chains (LAW-12306); Food Quality Management (FQD-20306).

Continuation courses:

Food Law, Management and Economics (LAW-32806), Food Safety Management (FHM-61312), Intellectual Property Rights (LAW-32306), Global Economic (Trade) Law and Risk Regulation (LAW-31806)

Contents:

The regulation of food addresses a variety of concerns ranging from food safety and quality standards and procedures to food marketing and labeling or consumer protection and information.

The course teaches the making of, content and application of food law, with a focus on the European Union. It covers in particular:
- the General Food Law Regulation that establishes general principles and requirements of food law, governs the European Food and Safety Authority, and lays down procedures on food safety;
- special EU legislation on food e.g. hygiene and safety; the marketing of novel and GMO foods; consumer protection; food information and product labeling; use of pesticides and organic farming; nutrition and health claims on foods, as well as private enforcement issues;
- international trade rules that are relevant to food, notably under the WTO and Codex Alimentarius at the global level of food law.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- understand how specific topics in the food domain are regulated;
- understand the processes of food law making;
- understand how to determine motives or causes, and make interpretations on the basis of an analysis of the concepts, relationships and organizational principles of the domain;
- find and use the relevant databases and information sources;
- refer to law accurately, and deploy legal reasoning to reach conclusions;
- solve legal problems (‘cases’) in the food domain;
- apply the theoretical framework to real regulatory issues in so-called cases.

Activities:

Activities during the food law course consist of:
- master the self-study package in week 1;
- take the intake assessment quiz in week 1 to receive tutorial group placement;
- read the required literature before the lectures;
- attend lectures twice a week;
- write and submit a weekly legal case assignments (groupwork);
- discuss the legal case assignments in the weekly practicals;
- take the final exam.

Examination:

Written exam with multiple choice and open questions.

Literature:

Textbook, additional literature and legal materials.