Course code PārZ5021
Credit points 3
Food Legislation
Total Hours in Course81
Number of hours for lectures12
Number of hours for seminars and practical classes12
Independent study hours57
Date of course confirmation19.01.2014
Responsible UnitInstitute of Food
Course developer
Zanda Krūma
Dr. sc. ing.
Course abstract
Study course for master students to obtain information on the most important legislation in food production chain.
Learning outcomes and their assessment
1. Having a good knowledge about the most important legislative acts of the food industry and is able to find the necessary information (test; practical works)
2. Having a good knowledge of various databases related to food legislation, information catalogs (practical works)
3. To be able to analyze legislative acts and to orientate on the most important issues - 1st independent work.
4. To be able to evaluate and analyze food labeling and evaluate information - 2nd independent work
Course Content(Calendar)
1. Legislation in Latvia and Europe. Functions, classification and development (Lecture -1).
2. Major Food Law. Law On the Supervision of the Handling of Food, EU Regulation 178/2002 (Lecture -1; Practical Works - 1)
3. EFSA's activities and responsibilities. RASFF System and Its Importance in Food Safety (Lecture -1; Practical Works - 2)
4. Legislation on food additives, genetically modified and novel foods (Lecture - 2; practical works - 1).
5. Nutritional Supplements, Food Flavorings, Enzymes, Extraction Solvents (Lecture -1; Practical Works - 1)
6. Legislative requirements for hygiene in food businesses. (Lecture -1; Practical Works - 1)
7. Chemical contamination of food - animal products (hormones, veterinary drugs, etc.); plant products (mycotoxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrates, metals, etc.) (Lecture -1; Practical works - 1)
8. Standards in the Food Sector (BRC, ISO 22000, Halal, Kosher etc.) (Lecture -1; Practical Works - 1)
9. Food Quality Schemes, Organic Farming and Production (Lecture -1; Practical Works - 1)
10. Requirements for food contact materials (Lecture -1; practical works - 1).
11. Food Labeling Conditions (Lecture -1; Practical Works - 1)
12. Nutrition and Health Claims (Lecture -1; Practical Works - 1)
13. Nutrition legislation for specific groups (Regulation (EU) No 609/2013) (Lecture -1; Practical works - 1)
14. Legislation relating to specific foods or specific issues (Practical works - 2).
15. Food Control Institutions and Consumer Interests Protection (Lecture -1; Practical Works - 1)
16. Food Fraud (Lecture -1; Practical Works - 1)
Requirements for awarding credit points
The student of the study course passes it if the practical works are carried out, the test is successfully written (at least mark 4), the chosen topic has been successfully presented, the labeling has been developed.
Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work
1. The student individually presents a certain topic, the importance of selected legislation, the most significant Latvian and European legislative acts in the specified field is presented.
2. Developing a label by selecting a product, the nutrition calculation should be submitted in excel format and a label with all the necessary information should be created. Work must be presented during the lessons.
Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes
The student of the study course passes (test) if practical works, successfully written test, successfully selected selected theme, developed mark.
Compulsory reading
Latvijas likumdošana / Latvian law - http://www.likumi.lv
Eiropas Savienības likumdošana / EU law - http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html
Pārtikas likumdošana / EU law http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/foodlaw/principles/index_en.htm
Further reading
EFSA http://www.efsa.europa.eu/
Standartizācijas organizācija / International standardization organization - http://www.iso.org;
Latvijas standarti / Latvian standards http://www.lvs.lv
Codex Alimentarius http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/en/
Pārtikas marķējums / Food labeling https://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/labelling_nutrition/labelling_legislation_en
Veselīguma un uztura norādes / Health and nutrition claims https://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/labelling_nutrition/claims_en
http://www.pvd.gov.lv/lat/lab_izvelne/normativie_akti/mk_noteikumi
Periodicals and other sources
Latvijas Vēstnesis ISSN 1407-0391
DOOR datubāze http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/list.html?locale=lv
Jaunās pārtikas katalogs / Novel Food Catalogue,https://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/novel_food/catalogue_en
Ģenētiski modificēto organismu reģistrs / Genetically Modified Organisms
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/dyna/gm_register/index_en.cfm
Notes
Master study programme “Food Science”