Comparing Approaches Toward Governing Scientific Advisory Bodies on Food Safety in the United States and the European Union

Abstract

Governmental bodies must often rely upon scientific research in deciding when and how to structure regulatory programs in areas of emerging health risks. This is especially true in areas of food safety, where agencies are charged with promulgating regulations to respond to arising issues of contamination and other foodborne ailments. Because the science is in development in these areas, and because new situations often arise, research regarding food safety can be both uncertain and controversial. Thus governmental bodies regulating food safety must draw from a number of different research sources, including scientific advisory bodies, as well as regulatory research institutions and educational research institutions.

Keywords: expertise, experts, food safety categories, Health Law Journals

JEL Classification: K32, Q18