
Living in the European Union, a large chunk of my work on food law focusses on EU food law. Much of the analysis is based on a structure that gradually developed. See on this structure: 'The structure of European Food Law'.
Topics covered include market authorisation requirements for food additives, genetically modified organisms and other novel foods; food safety limits for contaminants such as pesticide residues; food labelling requirements, including nutrition, health and medicinal claims, risk analysis and enforcement.
The EU needs to reconsider itself in the face of Brexit. In an editorial in the European Food and Feed Law Review (EFFL 2|2017, p. 115), regarding Brexit I took the position quoted here below.
Topics covered include market authorisation requirements for food additives, genetically modified organisms and other novel foods; food safety limits for contaminants such as pesticide residues; food labelling requirements, including nutrition, health and medicinal claims, risk analysis and enforcement.
The EU needs to reconsider itself in the face of Brexit. In an editorial in the European Food and Feed Law Review (EFFL 2|2017, p. 115), regarding Brexit I took the position quoted here below.
On the 29th of March 2017, the British Prime Minister Theresa May signed the formal notification of the UK’s intention to leave the EU. I invite you and everybody to celebrate BREXIT. In my view it provides the EU the opportunity to present itself at its very best. So far, the Union and the Member States do not seem to be rising to the occasion. The dominating tone seems to be one of petty grumpiness rather than celebration. I posted a oneliner on LinkedIn “The UK is not Tibet”. Anne van Hagen-van Rooijen responded: “The
reputation and respect of the European Union is not only based on how we treat those that want to join, but also on how we treat those that want to leave. We brought down the iron curtain and the Berlin wall (we in the west did not like because it prevented those that wanted to leave from leaving). Let's not built a blame game wall because of Brexit.”
Brexit provides the EU the opportunity to prove beyond any doubt that it is a community of friends. New friends may enter on the basis of mutual respect. What they enter into is not a prison. The door will not slam shut behind them. Parting again is a serious option. No hard feelings. Friends like before. I deeply regret to see my British friends leave, and I secretly hope for a last-minute change of heart or, at the very least, for a return of the Scots. But I do not begrudge anyone his or her liberty and autonomy. If the Brits are better off without me, be my guest. Such Union of true and full liberty, I am happy to endorse wholeheartedly. And who knows, if the Union shows such greatness, it may be able to reconnect to the EU citizens, who increasingly seem to turn their back to the EU.