EU - The Relevance of the New EU Supply Chain Requirements for Combating Food Fraud

The authors describe the influence of current European legislation on supply chains, particularly with a focus on environmental and social standards, as an (unintended) side effect on food fraud. The increased transparency requirements for supply chains mean that information is obtained and disclosed, making it more difficult for fraudsters to deceive their customers about product characteristics. The information obtained and collated by companies in the supply chain will also make it easier for authorities, and possibly also for NGOs, to uncover cases of food fraud. For buyers and authorities, a lack of information is the greatest challenge with regard to food fraud. If the upstream supplier, the origin of the raw materials and various other product aspects are or can be known, it will be easier to recognise food fraud - and the buyer will also be legally responsible more often if a counterfeit product or counterfeit ingredient is purchased.

Author(s):  Schulz, S and Schäfer, S.

Published in: European Food and Feed Law Review.