Objectives and competences
Familiarize students with the legislative process in the European Union and in Portugal and to familiarize the students with the standardization principles and practices with emphasis in the areas of food control and innovation processes.
At the end of the Curricular unit students should be able to
- understand the fundamental differences between legislation and standardization
- understand the basic principles of the legislative process in the EU and in Portugal – to know what is legislated and how it is legislated
- know the sources and how to do research of normative documents and legal norms
- interpret normative documents and legal norms
Teaching Methodologies
The course is structured in theoretical and tutorial classes. In the theoretical classes the fundamental concepts are presented that are later applied in the resolution of practical cases in the tutorial classes.
In these classes is also stimulated the autonomous study, the research and interpretation of standards and legal norms. For the tutorial orientation classes, experts in the area of standardization applied to innovation and acting in the areas of implementation, prevention and law enforcement are invited.
Syllabus
General principles of Union law and fundamental rights.
Free movement of goods in the EU - The mutual recognition principle in the single market: Importance, the principle of subsidiarity, complementarity with the principles of conferral and of proportionality.
Sources and scope of European Union– application to Food Regulation. Hierarchy of EU secondary legislation. The various types of EU secondary legislation. Legislative competence, right of initiative and legislative procedures. Implementation of Union legislation.
Portuguese legislation – application to Food Regulation. Hierarchy of PT secondary legislation. The various types of PT secondary legislation. Legislative competence and implementation.
Roles and responsibilities of food law enforcement agencies.
Standardization – National, International (ISO, Codex Alimentarius) and Sectorial – Scope principles, main institutions. Standardization applied to Innovation processes.
