Regulatory Agencies and Competent Authorities
Public bodies legally responsible for legislation, inspection, approval, enforcement, official controls, public health or standards in a defined jurisdiction.
Legislatures, ministries, regulators, inspection services, laboratories, local authorities and standards bodies perform different functions. One body may write rules while another enforces them.
Slaughter, inspected processing, retail food, imports, additives and protected names may fall under different authorities even within one country.
Where the term is used, designated national or regional bodies carry out official controls and enforcement under the governing framework.
Codex develops international standards and guidance, but national law and competent authorities determine direct legal obligations.
Identify jurisdiction, establishment type, product, sales channel and process. Then consult current legislation and the authority responsible for that exact activity.
Agency descriptions should be dated and jurisdiction-specific. The article must not convert one regulator’s guidance into a universal Curesmith rule.
Related in the Codex
References
- https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/what-we-do
- https://www.fsis.usda.gov/about-fsis
- https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/625/oj/eng
- https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/codes-of-practice/en/