European food safety policy aims are twofold: to protect human health and consumers’ interests, and to foster the smooth operation of the European single market.

The EU thus ensures that control standards are established and adhered to in the areas of feed and food-product hygiene, animal health, plant health and the prevention of food contamination from external substances. The Union also regulates labelling for food and feed products.

In the wake of a series of human food and animal feed crises, EU food safety policy underwent substantial reform in the early 2000s. The ‘Farm to Fork’ approach was defined, guaranteeing a high level of safety at all stages of the production and distribution process for all food products marketed within the EU, whether produced within the EU or imported from third countries.