95834 - Veterinary Legislation and Food Safety

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student is able to: - understand the connections between international law and EU and national law in the field of veterinary legislation; - know the role of EU and international institutions and bodies in food safety, animal health and welfare; - know the main existing EU and national regulations in the field of food safety and animal health and welfare; - be able to use the main international, EU and national web resources useful in the field of food safety and animal health and welfare.

Course contents

General concepts

Revision on domestic and European Union Law

The role of the National and European Institutions in the food safety issues

The market organization of the main sectors producing food of animal origin

The international affairs: the role of WHO and SPS agreement, the Codex Alimentarius, the World Organization for Animal Health

The main hazard for food and the relative causes

Special part

The veterinary legislation; sectors and actors. The sources of the domestic and European law on animal health and welfare and on food safety

Principles, rules, procedures and agencies on food safety

The risk analysis

Farm to fork strategy

The official controls: the role of the competent Authorities; the official sampling, the national Plan for residues control, microbiological criteria

The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF)

Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES)

Nutrition labelling; origin labelling

Case studies (Problem Based Learning):

1) European Union and national decision-making processes.

2) "Food safety"

3) foodborne diseases

Training

Groups training on the use of informatic tools for the cognition on the EU and domestic law; groups training on the consultation of the informative tools relevant for animal health and welfare and food safety

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching materials consist of: 1) the recommended textbooks; 2) the Bibliography selected by the lecturer (texts, scholarly articles, official documentation of European/national institutions, normative texts) for the discussion of the case studies 3) normative texts pertaining to the topics included in the program.

Compendio di Diritto dell'Unione Europea. Aspetti istituzionali e politiche dell'Unione; a cura di S. Gerli, Ed. giuridiche Simone, XXI edizione 2021

Codice breve dell'Unione europea minor, a cura di C.C. Gialdino, , Ed. Giuridiche Simone, XI edizione 2020

AA vari “La sicurezza alimentare”, Quaderni di sanità Pubblica. Ed. Maggioli, 2015

AA vari "Etica e Allevamento Animale" (a cura di G. Bertoni), Ed. Franco Angeli, 2016

Compendio di diritto alimentare, Di Costato L. et al, CEDAM 2022

Il Regolamento di Polizia Veterinaria (a cura di c. Benazzi e G. Martini), Ed. Esculapio, 2022

Teaching methods

In addition to traditional face-to-face teaching using Power Point presentations, the course includes the analysis of three case studies using a problem-based learning approach: the case is first presented by the lecturer, reviewed by students organized into groups and then discussed together in the classroom to identify learning objectives; this is followed by a self-study phase of in the following week(s) on selected material provided by the lecturer; and finally there is plenary discussion, led by the lecturer to critically examine and discuss the previously identified learning objectives.

Assessment methods

The exam is conducted in written form on the entire syllabus and involves 12 multiple-choice questions (worth a total of 18 points) and two open-ended questions (each worth a maximum of 6 points). Wrong answers do not result in a score. The use of supporting materials such as textbooks, notes, computer aids is not allowed during the test.

Correction of the written assignment takes place ideally within 7 working days after the date of the exam. The Lecturer is available for targeted explanations of the parts of the program that, as a result of any failure to pass the test, are still insufficiently clear.

According to the teaching regulations, it is permissible to reject the grade, even if it is positive, once.

The test is considered passed when the candidate obtains a minimum score of 18 out of 30 points.

Teaching tools

Data base, PC, draft of lessons, official web sites of EU, national and regional Institutions.

Several types of litrerature to read for the cases studies (scientific textbooks, papers, journal articles, policy or legal documents) for the cases studies

"the course participates in the University's educational innovation project."

Office hours

See the website of Angelo Peli

See the website of Mariana Roccaro