Specialisation Food Law and Regulatory Affairs
This programme provides you with a solid legal foundation regarding key issues in food safety and food regulation at international, EU and national level, as well as questions of trade, consumer and intellectual property rights law.
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A unique programme to prepare you for an exciting career in the food domain
Background of the specialisation Food Law
The food domain is strictly regulated, at international, EU and national levels. Food regulation covers all aspects of production “from farm to fork”, including safety, hygiene, labelling, packaging, and, increasingly, sustainability aspects. This area of law also governs special foodstuffs, including organic products, genetically modified organisms, novel foods, food supplements and many more.
Over the last decades, the complexity of these laws has developed in line with ever-more technical food production processes and increasingly sophisticated consumer demands. It is challenging for regulators, the food industry and consultants to create fitting regulatory regimes, and keep up to date with regulatory regimes, and keep upto date with regulatory developments in order to mitigate legal exposure, and ensure compliance.
This is why graduates in Food Law and Regulatory Affairs are needed!
Alongside food safety concerns, the food regulatory framework incorporates a growing range of sustainability concerns. Graduates in Food Law and Regulatory Affairs will therefore play a pivotal role in adapting and reacting to legal changes in the food sector and in proactively navigating the unfolding and dynamic terrain of future food laws.
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Application & admission
Are you interested in this Master and do you want to know more information about the admission requirements? Read about the application and admission procedure.
Experiences from students
"I have found this programme absolutely fascinating."
Student testimonial
Student Alicja - MSc Food Safety
"The international environment enriched my experience even further."
Student testimonial
Student Wendy - MSc Food Safety
"The university is exciting and motivating."
Student testimonial
Student Alessandro - MSc Food Safety
Master's Food Safety: Specialisation Food Law and Regulatory Affairs
Wageningen University is the only university worldwide offering a Master programme that combines food law expertise with technical food safety components. For detailed information of the courses in this 2-year programme, you can view the study handbook.
First year
The core programme in the first year consists of courses in food law, food quality management, and food safety management. Depending on your background and preferences, you will follow additional mandatory and optional courses.
| Course | Natural science students | Law/non-technical students |
|---|---|---|
| Food Quality Management | ✔ | ✔ |
| Food Law | ✔ | ✔ |
| Food Safety Management | ✔ | ✔ |
| Introduction to Law for the Life Sciences | ✔ | |
| Food Safety Economics | ✔ | |
| Basics in Food Technology | ✔ | |
| Food Hazards | ✔ | |
| Legal Transformation of Food Systems | ✔ | ✔ |
| Intellectual Property Rights | ✔ | ✔ |
| Comparative Food Law | ✔ | ✔ |
| International Food Law | ✔ | ✔ |
Second year
The second year of the programme consists of independent research. During the first part of the year, you will write a research thesis, supported by faculty at the Law Group. During the second part of the year, you will undertake an internship in the field of food law at a company or organisation.
Our internships typically take place with international food companies, international organizations or consultancies. International internships are supported by the programme.
Master Thesis – Law Group Database
Have a look at the database find out more about it!
Are you eligible to participate in the Master’s Food Law and Regulatory Affairs?
The Master is open to students with an undergraduate degree in Law or Food Science, but also students with a background in European Studies, Governance & Policy, as well as Nutrition and Health, Agricultural or Environmental Sciences, or other related programmes. Due to the range of previous degrees that qualify for the course, students with a legal background can learn from students with a technical background and vice versa. For graduates, it is of utmost importance that they can understand both the legal and the technical aspects of the food domain.
Moreover, we are proud to have an incredibly diverse student body from all over the world, bringing a range of experiences and cultural perspectives.
Employment outlook
At the moment there is an urgent need for food law experts. Our graduates work all over the world in the food industry, as consultants (in legal and food areas), in governmental organisations (including EU, WHO, EFSA), food inspection services and (specialised) law firms. Some also continue into academic careers.
Our Alumni's stories
In my experience, good ideas and own initiatives are always welcomed and there is much room to develop yourself during the studies, both professionally and personally.
Thanks to the professors’ competence and particular courses that allowed me to engage with the food theme from a political and institutional perspective.
I had the honour of following courses given by researches and experts in their field who would incessantly do their best to inspire their students.
I was interested in bringing safe and high-quality products on the market, rather than new concepts. This made the choice for the specialisation easy.