Food safety regulatory systems in Europe and China: A study of how co-regulation can improve regulatory effectiveness

doi:10.1016/S2095-3119(15)61113-3

Journal of Integrative Agriculture

2015, Vol. 14

Issue (11): 2203-2217 DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(15)61113-3

Section 1: Policy and regulations

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Food safety regulatory systems in Europe and China: A study of how co-regulation can improve regulatory effectiveness

Kevin Chen, WANG Xin-xin, SONG Hai-ying

1、Beijing Office, International Food Policy Research Institute, Be ijing 100081, P.R.China
2、School of Economics and International Trade, Zhejiang Universit y of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou 310018, P.R.China
3、International Business Administration College, Zhejiang Interna tional Studies University, Hangzhou 310012, P.R.China

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摘要 Food safety has received a great deal of attention in both developed and developing countries in recent years. In China, the numerous food scandals and scares that have struck over the past decade have spurred significant food safety regulatory reform, which has been increasingly oriented towards the public-private partnership model adopted by the Europe Union’s (EU) food safety regulatory system. This paper analyzes the development of both the EU’s and China’s food safety regulatory systems, identifies the current challenges for China and additionally considers the role of public-private partnership. The success of co-regulation in the food regulatory system would bring significant benefits and opportunities for China. Finally, this paper recommends additional measures like training and grants to improve the private’s sector effectiveness in co-regulating China’s food safety issues.

Abstract Food safety has received a great deal of attention in both developed and developing countries in recent years. In China, the numerous food scandals and scares that have struck over the past decade have spurred significant food safety regulatory reform, which has been increasingly oriented towards the public-private partnership model adopted by the Europe Union’s (EU) food safety regulatory system. This paper analyzes the development of both the EU’s and China’s food safety regulatory systems, identifies the current challenges for China and additionally considers the role of public-private partnership. The success of co-regulation in the food regulatory system would bring significant benefits and opportunities for China. Finally, this paper recommends additional measures like training and grants to improve the private’s sector effectiveness in co-regulating China’s food safety issues.

Keywords: food safety co-regulation public-private partnership Food Safety Law of China European Union China

Received: 12 January 2015 Accepted:

Fund:

This work was undertaken as part of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) led by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Funding support for this study was provided by the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets and by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Program on “Food Value Chain Upgrading for Food Safety in Transforming Food Markets” (71273269).

Corresponding Authors: WANG Xin-xin, E-mail: xinxinwang1985@yeah.net E-mail: xinxinwang1985@yeah.net

About author: Kevin Chen, E-mail: K.Chen@cgiar.org;

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Kevin Chen, WANG Xin-xin, SONG Hai-ying. 2015. Food safety regulatory systems in Europe and China: A study of how co-regulation can improve regulatory effectiveness. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 14(11): 2203-2217.

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