BRCGS Economic Research

Final Report on Research Project on the economic impact of BRCGS Food Safety Standards

This paper is an intermediate output of the author's project: "Economic Research on Food Safety Standards," in collaboration with Dr Marion Frenz. Background The Nederlandse Voedsel-en Warenautoriteit (The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, NVWA) is the competent authority responsible for the supervision and enforcement of food safety regulations in the Netherlands. As part of its inspection regime, the Regulator has monitored the results of the supervision of Food Business Operators (FBOs) for the 2015-2020 period. This information records compliance performance against the food-associated regulations and whether the business is certified to a recognised food safety management system. This paper explores the interplay between regulations and certification, and whether third-party certification results in improved compliance, and therefore a means to ensure that food manufactured into the market in the Netherlands is safe for consumers.