Food safety standards in the fresh produce supply chain: advantages and disadvantages

Abstract

Abstract : Food safety standards in the fresh produce supply chain are discussed in view of the outcomes of a European Union Directorates General (EU DG) Research project FP7 Veg-i-Trade ‘Impact of climate change and international trade on the safety of fresh produce’. Various standards are outlined and their role in the international (global) trade of fresh produce to guarantee hygiene and safety (related to both microbiological and chemical hazards) of fresh produce along the supply chain is addressed. Stringent food safety requirements, of both legislative and private nature, are identifi ed as important bottlenecks to gain access to the high value EU market. The challenges of translating the set requirements into a food safety management system are explored