Introduction to food law and policy in the United States and Canada

Abstract

This introductory chapter discusses the rise of the practice of food law in both the United States and Canada, and gives an overview of the legislative backdrop for the practice of food law. The chapter discusses the multi-layered landscape of food and agriculture laws and regulations in Canada and the United States, by outlining the key federal, provincial/state-wide, and regional/municipal legislative structures. The regulatory and legislative modernization efforts in both countries are assessed, with discussion on the factors that have driven their adoption by both countries at the federal level. The chapter goes on to discuss new legislative and policy developments in both jurisdictions, highlighting the issues and trends arising in the sector. These include new and more permissive legislative tools in the realm of urban agriculture, an increased legislative emphasis on local food and the role of procurement, the presence of cottage food laws, and the intertwined issues of the right to food and food sovereignty. In conclusion, the author discusses the proliferation of professional associations and corresponding opportunities for the practice of food law in both the United States and Canada, a development which demonstrates both the need for food lawyers and the legitimizing of the practice area on the whole.