Measuring the perceived pressure and stakeholders' response that may impact the status of the safety of the food chain in Belgium

At country level the safety of the food chain is influenced by local and global pressures, such as social, economical, environmental or political pressures. As a reaction on the perceived pressures and the status of the safety of the food chain, response is taken by food policy makers and by stakeholders in order to maintain or improve the safety level. The present paper describes the measurement of the perceived pressures and the resulting responses in Belgium. In order to collect this information a survey was performed in June 2010 among the various actors in the Belgian food chain. In total 38 completed surveys were obtained (response rate: 56%). The top 3 pressures that act on the food chain are in particular of economic (financial crisis/limitation of resources, price of raw materials), political (complexity of legislation) and social (media and perception of food safety) natures. International trade and globalization of the supply chain did not show up as a high ranked pressure, neither did technological development. In general, the generation of a specific response to the perceived pressures was shown to be difficult. The various types of responses could be summarized into five main strategies: i) communication and networking; ii) training; iii) participation in working groups and elaboration of research programs; iv) legislation, control and monitoring plans; v) no or limited response.

► The level of food safety is influenced by local and global pressures. ► The top 3 pressures are of economic, political and social natures. ► As a reaction on these pressures, various responses are taken by stakeholders. ► The various responses can be classified into five main categories.