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(POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE,
POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA,
MSc )
in EUROPEAN FOOD REGULATORY AFFAIRS
Produced with the support of the
European Community within
the Framework of the Leonardo da Vinci programme. The views
expressed do not necessarily represent the Commission's position.
Transnational Industrial partners were: Coca-Cola UK, Golden
Vale IRL, Mars UK, Unilever NL.
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INTRODUCTION
Food and drink is Europe’s largest manufacturing sector
in terms of value of output and is second in terms of employment.
The industry has seen dramatic changes in recent years. The
increasing complexity of the regulation of the food chain, owing to technological advances in food production, processing and packaging,
completion of the Single European Market, globalisation and recent food safety crises have made it imperative that all
stakeholders keep up- to- date with the most recent developments in this area in order to maintain economic competitiveness
and produce safe food.
Food Regulatory Affairs represents the integration of the disciplines
of science, law, and policy as they apply to the regulation of the entire
food chain- from primary agricultural production to food manufacture
to consumers - the so called 'farm to fork' system. Although food regulation
represents an integral part of the food sector, traditionally, there has been no formal mode of education or professional training in Food Regulatory
Affairs. Development of this distance learning M.Sc. programme in European
Food Regulatory Affairs was prompted by the need, identified by food
sector stakeholders to provide an innovative and up-to-date approach to
training in this rapidly evolving field.
The core units of the distance learning courses are six specially
developed taught modules and an individual research project.
Module titles are:
- Module FOR700C1X Introduction to the European Union and
Food Regulatory Affairs
- Module FOR701C1X Risk Analysis
- Module FOR702C2X International Food Regulatory Affairs
- Module FOR703C2X Farm to Fork Regulation of the Food Chain
- Module FOR704C1X Food and Health
- Module FOR705C1X Current Issues in Food Regulatory Affairs
- Module FOR706C4X Research Project
The modules are designed to equip students from diverse academic
backgrounds with the knowledge base, skills and expertise necessary to
operate effectively in this complex area.
The courses will be offered by distance learning as linked
PostgraduateCertificate/Postgraduate Diploma /M.Sc courses.
The postgraduate certificate will provide a focused overall
view of the system of food regulation in Europe. This will be
achieved through completion of modules FOR700C1X and FOR703C2X.
The Postgraduate Diploma and M.Sc course work will provide
students with a thorough and in-depth understanding of the elements
that make up the food regulatory process. This will include aspects
of food science, health, law, ethics,policy,economics and politics.
After successful completion of the course work, each student
will undertake an individual research project following consultation
with a nominated research supervisor. The research project will
integrate the material from the coursework and apply it to an
issue of present or probable future concern to stakeholders in
the food sector. It may be possible for students to undertake a
particular project as part of their employment if arrangements
can be made. Examples of possible research projects could
include: Design a HACCP plan for a food manufacturer, submit a
dossier for a novel food, assess a new flavouring compound,
assess consumer attitudes towards genetically modified foods,
assess the scientific basis for the EU ban on US hormone treated
meat. One of the key features of the course is that it will be
entirely based on distance learning principles. The advantages of
this approach are that it provides students with flexibility
and convenience that enables each student to determine his/her
own pace of study. The course will be available on a
part-time basis over a period of two years.
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