Institute for Food Laws and Regulations

Online Education in Food Laws and Regulations

The Institute for Food Laws and Regulations (IFLR) at Michigan State University offers food law courses taught online by an international network of food science, academic, and legal professionals, who understand the complex nature of food laws and how they impact the flow of food and agricultural products across national boundaries.

Our graduate-level courses are fully accredited and are designed for food industry professionals and regulators. Students may take as few or as many courses as they desire. Students may earn a "Certificate in International Food Law" or "Certificate in United States Food Law" after completing twelve qualifying credits (usually four courses).

Enrollment is fast and easy through MSU Lifelong Education. MSU’s Lifelong Education Program requires no application fee, no college transcripts, and no entrance exam.

A typical course will detail the food regulation practices of a specific subject area such as Codex Alimentarius, or provide a detailed examination of the food laws and regulatory practices of a specific country or region such as the United States, European Union, Latin America, Canada, or Asia.

Students may also work toward an online Master of Laws (LL.M.) or a Master of Jurisprudence (M.J.) degree in Global Food Law, or an online master's degree in food safety.

News

How are Direct-to-Consumer Food Sales Like Farmers Markets and Home Kitchens Regulated for Food Safety?

Published on July 21, 2021
Increasingly popular direct-to-consumer food sales, such as at farmers markets and on-farm food retail, do not always fall under FDA regulatory jurisdiction, and some may not be regulated at all depending on which State they are in.
Alternative ‘meat’ production will change the pet food industry

Published on July 6, 2021
Scott Haskell gives an overview of the current status of alternative “meat” regulation in the pet food industry, stakeholder concerns, and emerging issues.
Fortin: Proposed Michigan Bill Does not Mean that Lab Grown Meat Cannot be Labeled as “Meat”

Published on June 18, 2021
Neal Fortin's take on how lab grown meat may be labeled.
Sesame Added as a Major Food Allergen

Published on June 8, 2021
Congress has added sesame to the definition of "major food allergen," making it subject to the plain language labeling disclosure requirements for major food allergens and the major allergen preventative controls requirements.
Understanding GRAS for the Pet Food Industry

Published on May 20, 2021
The FDA recently made several rulings concerning the additives that pet food manufacturing companies can and cannot include in their products. Haskell discusses the concept of "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) in relation to animal food.