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ecl-button--icon-only" type="button" data-ecl-menu-caret aria-label="Access item's children" aria-describedby="ecl-menu-item-ecl-menu-1590195385-1-link" aria-expanded="false" ><span class="ecl-button__container"><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-icon--rotate-180 ecl-button__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" data-ecl-icon><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#corner-arrow"></use></svg></span></button><div class="ecl-menu__mega" data-ecl-menu-mega ><ul class="ecl-menu__sublist"><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/food-safety/acn_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="The Alert and Cooperation Network" >The Alert and Cooperation Network</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/food-safety/rasff_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF)" >Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF)</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/food-safety/eu-agri-food-fraud-network_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="The EU Agri-Food Fraud Network" >The EU Agri-Food Fraud Network</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/food-safety/animal-products_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Animal by-products" >Animal by-products</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/food-safety/animal-feed_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Animal feed" >Animal feed</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/food-safety/biological-safety_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Biological safety" >Biological safety</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/food-safety/chemical-safety_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Chemical safety" >Chemical safety</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/food-safety/food-waste_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Food Waste" >Food Waste</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/food-safety/food-improvement-agents_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Food improvement agents" >Food improvement agents</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/food-safety/labelling-and-nutrition_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Labelling and nutrition" >Labelling and nutrition</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/food-safety/novel-food_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Novel Food" >Novel Food</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem ecl-menu__see-all"><a href="/food-safety_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--icon ecl-menu__sublink" ><span class="ecl-link__label">See all</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-icon--rotate-180 ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" ><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#arrow-left"></use></svg></a></li></ul></div></li><li class="ecl-menu__item ecl-menu__item--has-children" data-ecl-menu-item data-ecl-has-children aria-haspopup aria-expanded="false" id="ecl-menu-item-ecl-menu-1590195385-2"><a href="/animals_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__link" data-untranslated-label="Animals" data-ecl-menu-link id="ecl-menu-item-ecl-menu-1590195385-2-link" >Animals</a><button class="ecl-button ecl-button--ghost ecl-menu__button-caret ecl-button--icon-only" type="button" 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href="/animals/animal-welfare_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Animal welfare" >Animal welfare</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/animals/live-animal-movements_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Live animals: movements within the Union and entry into the EU " >Live animals: movements within the Union and entry into the EU </a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/animals/animal-products-movements_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Animal products: movements within the Union and entry into the EU" >Animal products: movements within the Union and entry into the EU</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/animals/zootechnics_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Zootechnics" >Zootechnics</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/animals/semen-oocytes-embryos_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Semen, Oocytes & Embryos" >Semen, Oocytes & Embryos</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/animals/veterinary-border-control_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Veterinary border control" >Veterinary border control</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/animals/movement-pets_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Movement of pets" >Movement of pets</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem ecl-menu__see-all"><a href="/animals_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--icon ecl-menu__sublink" ><span class="ecl-link__label">See all</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-icon--rotate-180 ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" ><use 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href="/plants/plant-variety-property-rights_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Plant variety property rights" >Plant variety property rights</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/plants/plant-reproductive-material_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Plant reproductive material" >Plant reproductive material</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem ecl-menu__see-all"><a href="/plants_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--icon ecl-menu__sublink" ><span class="ecl-link__label">See all</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-icon--rotate-180 ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" ><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#arrow-left"></use></svg></a></li></ul></div></li><li class="ecl-menu__item ecl-menu__item--current ecl-menu__item--has-children" data-ecl-menu-item data-ecl-has-children 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href="/horizontal-topics/call-expressions-interest_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Call for expressions of interest" >Call for expressions of interest</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/horizontal-topics/committees_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Committees" >Committees</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/horizontal-topics/communication-outlets_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Communication outlets" >Communication outlets</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/horizontal-topics/consultations-and-feedback_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Consultations and feedback" >Consultations and feedback</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/horizontal-topics/european-union-reference-laboratories_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="European Union Reference Laboratories" >European Union Reference Laboratories</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/horizontal-topics/expert-groups_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Expert groups" >Expert groups</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/horizontal-topics/fitness-check-food-chain_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Fitness check of the food chain" >Fitness check of the food chain</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/horizontal-topics/funding-procurement-grants_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Funding, procurement & grants" >Funding, procurement & grants</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/horizontal-topics/future-food-safety-budget-and-policy_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Future food safety budget and policy" >Future food safety budget and policy</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem ecl-menu__subitem--current" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/horizontal-topics/general-food-law_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink ecl-menu__sublink--current" data-untranslated-label="General Food Law" aria-current="page" >General Food Law</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/horizontal-topics/international-affairs_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="International affairs" >International affairs</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/horizontal-topics/official-controls-and-enforcement_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Official controls and enforcement" >Official controls and enforcement</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/horizontal-topics/traces_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="TRACES" >TRACES</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/horizontal-topics/farm-fork-strategy_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Farm to Fork strategy" >Farm to Fork strategy</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem ecl-menu__see-all"><a href="/horizontal-topics_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--icon ecl-menu__sublink" ><span class="ecl-link__label">See all</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-icon--rotate-180 ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" ><use 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ecl-link--no-visited ecl-breadcrumb__link" >Horizontal topics</a><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--fluid ecl-breadcrumb__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" role="presentation"><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#corner-arrow"></use></svg></li><li class="ecl-breadcrumb__segment ecl-breadcrumb__current-page" data-ecl-breadcrumb-item="static" aria-current="page"><span>General Food Law</span></li></ol></nav><div class="ecl-page-header__info"><h1 class="ecl-page-header__title"><span>General Food Law</span></h1></div></div></div> </div> <main class="ecl-u-pb-xl" id="main-content" data-inpage-navigation-source-area="h2.ecl-u-type-heading-2, div.ecl-featured-item__heading"> <div class="ecl-container"> <div class="ecl-row"> <div class="ecl-col-s-12 ewcms-top-sidebar"> <div> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ecl-row"> <div class="ecl-col-s-12"> <div id="block-ewcms-theme-main-page-content" data-inpage-navigation-source-area="h2, div.ecl-featured-item__heading" class="ecl-u-mb-l"> <article dir="ltr"> <div> <div class="ecl"><div class="ecl-table-responsive"><table class="ecl-table"> <thead class="ecl-table__head"> <tr class="ecl-table__row"> <td> <h2>Brexit</h2> <p><a href="https://commission.europa.eu/document/fdb2fe1e-d767-4386-8dbd-8edfb45b4e7a_en">Notice to stakeholders - Withdrawal of the United Kingdom and EU Food Law</a></p> <p><a href="https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/relations-non-eu-countries/relations-united-kingdom/eu-uk-withdrawal-agreement/protocol-ireland-and-northern-ireland_en#the-windsor-framework">The Windsor Framework</a></p> </td> </tr> </thead> </table></div> <p>European citizens need to have access to safe and wholesome food of highest standards.</p> <p>A series of food incidents in late 1990s draw attention to the need to establish general principles and requirements concerning food and feed law <strong>at Union level</strong>. Accordingly, the European Commission developed an <strong>integrated approach to food safety 'from farm to fork'</strong>, primarily set out in its <strong>White Paper on Food Safety</strong>. It covers all sectors of the food chain, including feed production, primary production, food processing, storage, transport and retail sale.</p> <p>In 2002, the European Parliament and the Council adopted <strong><a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32002R0178">Regulation (EC) No 178/2002</a></strong> laying down the general principles and requirements of food law (<strong>General Food Law Regulation</strong>).</p> <p>The General Food Law Regulation is the foundation of food and feed law. It sets out an overarching and coherent framework for the development of food and feed legislation both at Union and national levels. To this end, it lays down general <strong>principles</strong>, <strong>requirements</strong> and <strong>procedures</strong> that underpin decision making in matters of food and feed safety, covering all stages of food and feed production and distribution.</p> <p>It also sets up an independent agency responsible for scientific advice and support, the <a href="http://www.efsa.europa.eu/"><strong>European Food Safety Authority</strong></a> (EFSA).</p> <p>Moreover, it creates the main procedures and tools for the management of emergencies and crises as well as the <a href="/food-safety/rasff_en">Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed</a> (RASFF).</p> <p>The General Food Law Regulation ensures a <strong>high level of protection of human life</strong> and consumers' interests in relation to food, while ensuring the effective functioning of the internal market.</p> <h2>Related links</h2> <ul> <li><a href="/document/download/fc324fec-5536-46fa-bfeb-dc7c69290ae2_en?filename=gfl_fitc_infographic_2018_en.pdf">Infographic: The General Food Law - Fitness Check</a></li> <li>Events <ul> <li><a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/events/15-years-anniversary-general-food-law-2017-nov-27_en">15 years anniversary of the General Food Law</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="/horizontal-topics/committees/paff-committees/general-food-law-paff_en">Comitology committee</a></li> </ul> <h2>Related documents</h2> <ul> <li><a href="/document/download/4c5aa4b0-0da7-48c0-b053-76b01be29984_en?filename=presentation_on_notice_brexit_eu_food_law.pdf">28 February 2018: Technical expert seminar on the preparation of the UK withdrawal in the SPS area - Food and Water</a></li> <li><a href="/document/download/18d5fcbb-5de6-4be4-8203-9799a4f94c03_en?filename=fs_infograph_from-farm-to-fork_en.pdf">From Farm to Fork: Controlling the safety of the agri food chain</a></li> <li><a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32002R0178">General Food Law Regulation</a></li> <li><a href="/document/download/7d53f3a7-8a08-47f4-bc1c-42af542db121_en?filename=gfl_white-paper_food-safety_2000_en.pdf">White Paper on Food Safety, 2000</a></li> </ul> <h2>Further information</h2></div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ecl-row"> <div class="ecl-col-s-12"> <div id="block-ewcms-theme-navigation-block" class="ecl-u-mb-l"> <div class="navigation-lists-block"><div class="ecl-content-item-block"><div class="ecl-row"><div class="ecl-content-item-block__item contextual-region ecl-u-mb-l ecl-col-12 ecl-col-l-4 "><article class="ecl-navigation-list__item ecl-navigation-list__item--no-border" ><div class="ecl-content-block ecl-navigation-list__content-block" data-ecl-auto-init="ContentBlock" data-ecl-content-block ><div class="ecl-content-block__title" data-ecl-title-link><a href="/horizontal-topics/general-food-law/performance-evaluation-european-food-safety-authority_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone" data-untranslated-label="Performance Evaluation of European Food Safety Authority" data-level="1" >Performance Evaluation of European Food Safety Authority</a></div><div class="ecl-content-block__description">The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was established in 2002 by Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (‘Founding Regulation/General Food Law’).</div></div></article></div><div class="ecl-content-item-block__item contextual-region ecl-u-mb-l ecl-col-12 ecl-col-l-4 "><article class="ecl-navigation-list__item ecl-navigation-list__item--no-border" ><div class="ecl-content-block ecl-navigation-list__content-block" data-ecl-auto-init="ContentBlock" data-ecl-content-block ><div class="ecl-content-block__title" data-ecl-title-link><a href="/horizontal-topics/general-food-law/expert-group-general-food-law_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone" data-untranslated-label="Expert group on General Food Law and sustainability of food systems" data-level="1" >Expert group on General Food Law and sustainability of food systems</a></div><div class="ecl-content-block__description">The expert group on general food law was established in 2014 to monitor the application of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 on general food law in the Member States, as well as to address any future revision of that Regulation. </div></div></article></div><div class="ecl-content-item-block__item contextual-region ecl-u-mb-l ecl-col-12 ecl-col-l-4 "><article class="ecl-navigation-list__item ecl-navigation-list__item--no-border" ><div class="ecl-content-block ecl-navigation-list__content-block" data-ecl-auto-init="ContentBlock" data-ecl-content-block ><div class="ecl-content-block__title" data-ecl-title-link><a href="/horizontal-topics/general-food-law/fitness-check-general-food-law_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone" data-untranslated-label="Fitness check of General Food Law" data-level="1" >Fitness check of General Food Law</a></div><div class="ecl-content-block__description">As part of its 'Smart Regulation' policy, the Commission has initiated a Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT). 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