Δράσεις & πολιτικές της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης για την προστασία των καταναλωτών στον τομέα των τροφίμων
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Keywords
Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση ; Νομοθεσία ; Τρόφιμα ; Καταναλωτές ; Κράτος μέλος ; Ασφάλεια τροφίμων ; Κανονισμοί ; Έλεγχος ; Ευρωπαϊκοί μηχανισμοί ; Συνεχής παρακολούθησηAbstract
A cornerstone of European Union legislation is food safety. A milestone in the area of ensuring the safety of the enlarged food production process was the year 2000, making the existing Legislative Framework one of the most comprehensive and protective in the world.
Through the writing of this work, it will be stressed out that food safety is still at the heart of the interest of the competent European authorities. It is understandable, however, that any form of risk cannot be eliminated. However, the Community's aim is to draw up a strategy endorsing a high level of food safety, based on the most up-to-date scientific findings and always having in mind the European consumer’s interest.
Thesis begins with the analysis of the current form of functioning of the Union and the reference to its most important mechanisms.
The second chapter of the paper briefly clarifies the most important food safety issues in order to create a common basis for dialogue.
Then reference will be made to all of the existing Regulations and Directives that shape the Union's policy in relation to the safety and hygiene of food and feed. It is important to analyze, in addition, the process of conducting controls throughout the food production process. Finally, the third chapter concludes with the existing way of managing food waste by the competent bodies of the Union.
In the fourth chapter there will be a reference to all of the various mechanisms that the European Union has set up in order to protect the grid of production and disposal of edible goods on the market. Each mechanism has a specific composition and it is a separate link in the food protection system.
In the fifth chapter there will be the analysis of a number of special factors that make it necessary to take measures in food production and distribution, such as the presence of pesticides in food. In this chapter reference is also made to the Union's mandatory way of indicating food ingredients on the labels and the characteristics of their packaging. It is also important to mention the existence of specific food formulations suitable for specific categories of consumers.
The analysis continues with the inventory of developments in the so-called ‘’novel foods sector’’, such as genetically modified organisms, plant and animal cloning and the use of the nanotechnology science in the food sector.
The entire seventh chapter deals with the health and welfare of animals by presenting the existing Legislative Framework for their proper treatment.
An extended report, then in the eighth chapter, is made about the RASFF System which is related to the continuous monitoring of all food preparations starting from the farm and ends up at the consumer's table. The need for continuous traceability is also signed in the next, ninth chapter, with a thorough reference to Traces Control and Expert System.
In chapter ten the existing mechanism for the protection of the food sector in Greece is being analyzed. Thesis is completed with the concluding remarks.