Food Laws and Regulations in the European Union

Course Code: FSC 812

Credits: 3 credits

This course is designed to provide practical knowledge for those who must understand the legal and regulatory complexities of the flow of food and agricultural products in the European Union. The course provides an overview of the EU, the procedures, EU food law history, current status of EU food law, the official control and import controls, national food control systems, food labeling, controlling additives and contaminants, HACCP, and food hygiene in the EU.

This course is taught by Professor Martin Holle, Professor of Food Law and Administrative Law at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany). The course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to apply this knowledge in a practical way and in a manner that is unique to the student’s background and interests.

The course syllabus is subject to change each semester but generally covers the following topics:

The history of the formation and the nature of the European Union
The organization and procedures of the European Union
The structure of the regulatory system, major laws, and current status of EU food law
The inspection programs, inspections, and the rapid alert system
How national food controls systems operate in some different EU member states
Key food labelling requirements
Controls on food additives and contaminants
The regulation of PARNUTS, food for special groups, and food supplements
Requirements for nutrition and health claims
Food hygiene control and HACCP in the EU
The regulatory requirements for importing food into the EU
The problem and nature of food fraud

Schedule:

This course is offered each fall semester.

Tips for first time enrollees:

Here is the direct link to apply: https://explore.msu.edu/apply/

Make sure you choose “first-time user” and then “NON-DEGREE” from the dropdown. There is no application fee for our program, so if you get to an area where it asks you to pay an application fee, then you are not in the correct process. Also, DO NOT CLICK THE BOX that asks if you are going to be taking classes in the global food law program. That question is referring to courses through the College of Law and saying “yes” to that question will only delay your application processing."

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