Government regulation of food quality: International and in France and the U.S.

Abstract

The regulatory framework for national food safety programmes is based on the international framework of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. The first part of this chapter describes the Programme; i.e. the development of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex). The Codex is an intergovernmental body of more than 150 Member Governments. Its guidelines apply to world trade in agricultural products and food safety in all member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO). However, Codex guidelines are merely recommendations and enforcement depends on national implementations of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. National food safety programmes in France and the U.S. are compared, as well. The Principles of Good Hygiene developed by the Codex encompass good management practices (GMPs), good agricultural practices (GAPs) and good hygienic practices (GHPs) and are intended for food producers from ‘farm-to-fork’ to prevent any food safety risk. As an additional safeguard, the Codex developed the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system against three main contaminants (i.e. biological, physical objects and chemical). HACCP is part of the Codex guidelines, but like GMPs/GAPs/GHPs, the adoption of a HACCP plan is only recommended. This chapter also examines two sets of international regulations regarding food quality and consumer protection, i.e. the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS) Agreement that regulates food safety and the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement for consumer protection. All WTO member countries have signed both SPS and TBT Agreements. Comparisons are made of the interpretation of these agreements in France and the U.S. Additionally, the European Union has established regulatory authority not only over food products manufactured or sold within the EU, but even those that transit its territories. The impact on U.S. producers (especially wheat growers) is discussed, as well.