Actors in Private Food Regulation: Taking Responsibility or Passing the Buck to Someone Else?

Abstract

In recent years, retailers and their organizations are playing an active role in food safety regulation. They initiated several private food safety standards and compelled suppliers of food products to comply with these standards. Which actors are involved in decision-making in this type of private food regulation? This question is important for problems of effectiveness, legitimacy and accountability. Several categories of private actors are distinguished based on their position in the regulatory arrangement. Private regulatory arrangements do develop in course of time; in different stages of their development other actors may be involved. Finally, we distinguish between direct (in person) and indirect (representation) participation in decision making. Some cases of retail-driven private food safety arrangements are examined.

Keywords: private food regulation, retailers, BRC, GlobalGap, GFSI