The EU Food Police. Its Lessons for Taiwan

Food police emerged as a key role for legal implementation following a series of food scandals in Europe and Taiwan which began in the 1990s. Proper institutional control has been recognized as an essential element in protecting consumers with respect to food, and so, following the adoption of Regulation 178/2002, the EU acted to establish an effective food control system converting all the food chain from farm to table. The EU applied a separation principle for risk assessment and risk management in food safety. In line with the European Commission responsible for risk management, the food police in the EU and its Member States play a critical function in auditing food products and cracking down illegal activities. The EU food police would enhance the EU’s food safety governance and promote the implementation of EU food law. This food police system thus facilitates the Europeanisation of food inspection at the European level and provides a multilevel institutional protection for food safety and consumer interest in the EU. This paper examines EU food control jurisprudence and the associated implement framework on food police, and compares these with corresponding institutions and practices in Taiwan. It also offers some proposals for food police reform in Taiwan to enhance the food law implementation in general.