Food fraud: protecting European consumers through effective deterrence

Abstract:

The 2013 horsemeat scandal drew attention to the issue of food fraud in the European Union and highlighted the potential health and economic risks associated with such frauds. In the aftermath of the scandal, this article examines the effectiveness of the European Union's legal framework in protecting against future frauds. It argues that this will only by achieved if this operates as a strong deterrent, which places potential fraudsters at significant risk of being apprehended. In the light of this, the article evaluates the measures in place to deter fraud in both food products manufactured within the European Union and in those imported from third countries. In doing so, it examines both the European Union's legislative framework and the manner in which it has been implemented across Member States. Finally, the article concludes by examining Member State cooperation in addressing cross-border food fraud, such as the one perpetrated in the horsemeat scandal itself.