EU Food Law Handbook

The EU Food Law Handbook edited by Bernd van der Meulen was published in September 2014. Bernd van der Meulen is respected scholar in EU food law, and he includes an outstanding ensemble of knowledgeable experts, like Martin Holle (Nutrition Policy in the European Union), Cecilia Kuhn and Francesco Montanari (Importing food into the EU), and others.

From the introduction: "This ‘EU Food Law Handbook’ presents the most significant elements of these legal developments with contributions from a highly qualified team of academics and practitioners. Their analysis is based on a shared vision of the structure and content of EU food law. The book takes the perspective of food law embedded within general EU law. It highlights the consequences of this combination and provides insights into both substantive and procedural food law.

"Taking the General Food Law as a focal point, this handbook analyses and explains the institutional, substantive and procedural elements of EU food law. Principles are discussed as well as specific rules addressing food as a product, the processes related to food and communication about food to consumers through labelling. These rules define requirements on subjects like market authorisation for food additives, novel foods and genetically modified foods, food hygiene, tracking & tracing, withdrawal & recall. The powers of public authorities to enforce food law and to deal with incidents are outlined. Attention is given to the international context (WTO, Codex Alimentarius) as well as to private standards.

"In addition to the systematic analysis, the book includes selected topics such as nutrition and health policy, special foods, food import requirements, food contact materials, intellectual property and animal feed.

“The ‘EU Food Law Handbook’ is produced in co-operation with the European Institute for Food Law. It is relevant for practitioners and academics both with and without a background in law. It is ideal for education purposes.”

The EU Food Law Handbook can be purchased here.

Ukraine adopts new food legislation to align with the EU

On September 15, 2014, Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko signed Law No. 1602 VII on Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine related to Food Products.   The law establishes a new wording for the Law of Ukraine on the Safety and Quality of Food. Ukraine Law No. 1602 VII appears intended to align Ukraine’s food legislation with the food law of the EU.

On 16 September 16, 2014, the Parliaments of the EU and Ukraine ratified the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement (EUAA). The new Ukraine food law appears relevant in the light of the EUAA, Article 474, which provides that the Ukraine will carry-out a gradual approximation of its legislation to EU law.
 
Article 1 of the Law on Food Safety contains provisions on the safety of food, traceability; risk analysis (defined as a process consisting of three interconnected components: risk assessment, risk management and risk communication), the system of hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), food supplements,  and novel foods.

New Publication by the WTO: The History and Future of the World Trade Organization

The History and Future of the World Trade Organization is a comprehensive account of the economic, political and legal issues surrounding the creation of the WTO and its evolution. Fully illustrated with color and black-and-white photos dating back to the early days of trade negotiations, the publication reviews the WTO's achievements as well as the challenges faced by the organization, and identifies the key questions that WTO members need to address in the future.