International Journal of Food Studies
Sign in
Issue image

More articles from Volume 3, Issue 1, 2014

Popping characteristics of paddy using microwave energy and optimization of process parameters

The Regulation of Food Science and Technology Professions in Europe

Effect of Buckwheat Processing Products on Dough and Bread Quality Made from Whole-Wheat Flour

Effects of Lactic Acid Fermentation on the Retention of Β-Carotene Content in Orange Fleshed Sweet Potatoes

Determination of the antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and flavonoid contents of seeds from three commercial varieties of culinary dates

The Regulation of Food Science and Technology Professions in Europe

Rui Costa ,
Rui Costa
View authors publications

Search this author on:

PubMed | Google Scholar
Sonja Smole Možina ,
Sonja Smole Možina
View authors publications

Search this author on:

PubMed | Google Scholar
Paola Pittia
Paola Pittia
View authors publications

Search this author on:

PubMed | Google Scholar

Published: 01.12.2013.

Volume 3, Issue 1 (2014)

https://doi.org/10.7455/ijfs.v3i1.209

Abstract

The regulation of a profession is justified when it improves consumer protection and public health. Higher education food science and technology (FST) degrees, widely offered in many universities in Europe open to a wide range of jobs in the food sectors where the employees could cover different positions, roles and carry out diverse activities dealing with the food production and the quality and safety of the food products. This work reviews the state of the art of the FST regulated professions requiring higher education qualifications in the European countries. The research was carried out by collecting specific information on regulated professions by contacting unions, professional associations, public servant categories/professions, and by visiting national and EU websites.  The data collected for each regulated profession were: country, training/education required, date of implementation of regulation, professional training (if required), capability test (if required) and acts required by law to be signed by a regulated professional. Only professions that required a higher education diploma were included in this search. Few countries were found to have a regulated profession in FST, in particular: Food Engineering (Turkey), Food Technologist (Greece, Iceland, Italy and Slovenia), and Oenologist (Italy, Portugal and Spain). FST regulated professions in Europe are thus scarce and have a rather limited history. The Food Technologist in Italy and the Food Engineer in Turkey were found to be the only completely regulated professions found in Europe. Food and professional regulation have been evolved over the years and raised the debate on the regulation of FST professions. Academia as well as other policymakers has to further contribute to this discussion to keep high the standards for quality of education and training of the qualified workforce and professionals in the food sector.

References

1.
Directive. of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 september 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications. 2005;
2.
Efsa. The european union summary report on trends and sources of zoonoses, zoonotic agents and food-borne outbreaks in 2011. Scientific Report of EFSA and ECDC EFSA Journal. 2013;(4):3129.
3.
Fde. Data & trends of the european food and drink industry 2012. 2012;
4.
Garoupa N. Regulation of professions in the us and europe: a comparative analysis (American Law & Economics Association Annual Meetings No. 1053). 2004;1053.
5.
Katz M. Computer assisted career decision making: the guide in the machine. 1993;
6.
Kostaropoulos A. Food engineering within food sciences. International Journal of Food Studies. 2012;125–35.
7.
Paterson M, Fink & Ogus I, A. Economic impact of regulation in the field of liberal professions in different member states. Regulation of Professional Services. Final Report -Part 1. Study for the European Commission, DG Competition. Vienna: Institute for Advanced Studies. 2003;
8.
Reardon R, Lenz J, Sampson J, Peterson G. Career development and planning: a comprehensive approach. 2000;
9.
Stephen F, Love J. Regulation of the legal profession. in: encyclopaedia of law and economics. 1999;987–1017.
10.
Super DE. A life-span, life-space approach to career development. Journal of Vocational Behavior. 1980;16(3):282–98.
11.
Technotn. 2007;

Citation

Copyright

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Article metrics

Google scholar: See link

The statements, opinions and data contained in the journal are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s). We stay neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Most read articles

Indexed by
Scopus
DOAJ
Sherpa-Romero
Google Scholar
Crossref