The University of Guelph's Department of Food Science in conjuction with Michigan State University held a three week course in East Asia on the food laws of Japan, China and Korea . The course is designed to give students an international perspective of the regulation of the food supply and an understanding of how politics, economics and science are involved in the process of developing food laws. Now more than ever globalization is impacting trade in food and this course explains the roles of various international organizations such as the World Trade Organization and Codex Alimentarius in regulating food trade. The course provides an in-depth understanding on the function of multinational corporations in a global environment, international trade barriers and a sense of risk management and assessment principles.
Students also obtain a portfolio of professional contacts and reference materials.
Over 25 guest speakers from food industry, government and universities provided lectures on specific issues in food laws. Officials from the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, Health Departments of China and Korea, U.S. Agriculture Trade Office in Hong Kong and Guangzhou and professors from the Tokyo University of Agriculture also gave lectures. Participants from the U of G would like to thank Dr. Yada and especially Margaret Timmins for all their assistance. Dr. M.A. Tung - Dept Food Sci. Kellogg's and Heinz.