FAO.org

The new FAO publication Thinking about the future of food safety - A foresight report – explores a selection of the most prominent drivers and related trends within and around agrifood systems and their implications on food safety. The publication reviews the effects on food safety of climate change, changing consumer behaviour, new food sources and production systems, technological advances, microbiome, the circular economy and food fraud, among others. The aim of the publication is to support strategic planning and preparedness with the early identification and evaluation of drivers and trends, so as to take advantage of emerging opportunities and address challenges in food safety.

The publication consists of a compilation of short briefs describing emerging areas, one of which is food fraud, which includes a contribution by the Development Law Service. The food fraud brief aims to reshape the current narrative whereby agrifood systems are portrayed as being increasingly undermined by criminal activity in the sector (food fraud), towards a more nuanced and solution-oriented picture. Solutions looked at in the brief include the use of legislation to prevent and minimize food fraud. The publication presents five different regulatory strategies from which countries can draw from to address food fraud and increase trust in their food systems.

The publication is of interest not only to policymakers and researchers, but also to food business operators, the private sector as well as to all of us consumers. Food safety is everybody’s business!

The Development Law Service is proud to have been able to support this publication, particularly its chapter on food fraud.

For more information, please contact [email protected]