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Verbruggen, Paul; Havinga, Tetty --- "Hybridization of food governance: An analytical framework" [2017] ELECD 630; in Verbruggen, Paul; Havinga, Tetty (eds), "Hybridization of Food Governance" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017) 1

Book Title: Hybridization of Food Governance

Editor(s): Verbruggen, Paul; Havinga, Tetty

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781785361692

Section: Chapter 1

Section Title: Hybridization of food governance: An analytical framework

Author(s): Verbruggen, Paul; Havinga, Tetty

Number of pages: 28

Abstract/Description:

The governance of food has changed dramatically since the 1990s. The outbreak of recurrent major food safety crises (including BSE), the globalization of food supply chains, the growing concentration of economic power among food retailers, a general perception of failing public regulation, and new concerns among consumers about animal welfare, dietary habits, the environment and fair trade have been identified in the literature as important drivers of changes in the institutions and practices of food governance. These changes have occurred across two dimensions: (i) national systems of food governance have been increasingly subject to international influences; and (ii) public food governance has been challenged, complemented or at times superseded by private governance systems. As regards the first dimension, it should be noted that national food safety laws and enforcement mechanisms have been amended in the light of demands set by international government organizations or global trade. In the context of the European Union, for example, the Member States have been required to revise national legislation and establish new regulatory agencies or reform existing ones to oversee food businesses after the adoption of new EU legislation on food safety. In addition, the European Union established the European Food Safety Authority and the Food and Veterinary Office, in part to improve government responses to food crises and enhance coordination between national food safety authorities to better control risks in transnational food chains. At the global level, standards, codes of practice and guidelines set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) play an important role in shaping national laws and government policies on food safety. National systems of food governance may also be exposed to pressures from importing countries to amend and ratchet up local standards. A prominent example here is China, which after experiencing strict food safety demands from importing countries, has sought to improve its national laws and enforcement mechanisms in order to gain access to international markets.