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Spencer Henson & Thomas Reardon (2005) Private agri-food standards: Implications for food policy and the agri-food system

Paper, Food Policy 30 (2005) 241–253
Elsevier Ltd

Document:

Abstract
This paper provides a brief introduction to the evolution and nature of private food safety and quality standards, highlighting the resultant impacts on the structure and modus operandi of supply chains for agricultural and food products and the challenges posed for processes of agricultural development. It serves as an introduction to a series of papers that provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge regarding private food safety and quality
standards in both an industrialised and developing country context. In so doing, it aims to provide a catalyst for further research on this rapidly evolving field of inquiry.

Keywords: Private standards; Food safety; Food quality; Trade

Relevance to our study:
This paper serves an introduction to a series of papers which focus on mainly private agri-food standards and recent research. The paper provides an overview of the food safety and quality standards knowledge in both developed and developing countries.
After a short introduction of the individual papers for this special issue the authors conclude that there is growing importance of private food safety and quality standards as a form of governance in agri-food systems. Such systems have evolved both in response to both to weaknesses in public food safety/quality control systems and as a tool for competitive positioning in the market place (e.g. private standards for public good delivery, such as animal welfare, environmental protection). The global concentration in food retailing has been a dominant driver in developing private systems.

Relevancy on a scale from 1 to 5 = 4

Review status: Finished
Review started on 2009–04–16
Reviewed by Jane Vine and Susanne Padel?

Comments:
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