market. There is scope in EU law making, beyond food and the internal market, for a better acknowledgment of various worldviews, knowledge and livelihoods. If the EU is to succeed in transitioning to a sustainable food system, it needs to make more room for local voices and initiatives. This calls for a new perspective on the EU’s internal market. IV. KEY ASPECTS OF EU FOOD LEGISLATIVE HARMONIZATION The harmonization of food legislation within the European Union (EU) refers to the process of aligning food safety standards, regulations, and practices across member states to ensure a high level of protection for public health, consumer interests, and the environment. This harmonization is essential for creating a cohesive single market where food products can be traded freely without barriers caused by differing national regulations. The primary legislative framework for food safety and regulation is set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which assesses risks and provides scientific advice. 4.1. Regulatory Frameworks: Key regulations includes. • Regulation (EC) No 178/2002: Establishes the European Food Safety Authority and lays down general principles and requirements of food law. • Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011: Deals with the provision of food information to consumers, covering labelling and nutritional information. • Regulation (EC) No 852/2004: Focused on the hygiene of foodstuffs, establishing hygiene practices for food businesses. 4.2. Challenges in Harmonization: • Cultural Differences: Member states have diverse food cultures and consumer preferences, which can lead to resistance to standardization. premise that consumers should have access to any food they like, regardless of its composition and how it is produced, if it is safe for human consumption. This derives directly from the internal market nature of EU food law – legislation that is aimed at removing barriers to trade and maximising consumer choice, but is ill-fitted to the post-growth concepts of circularity and deconsumption. Taking sustainability seriously requires us to challenge some core assump-� tions on which the internal market is founded.
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