Liability in food law: the problem of determining the subject to liability and its obligation of due diligence
| Autor: | Asta Šamulevičiūtė |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | litevština |
| Rok vydání: | 2013 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Sveikatos politika ir valdymas [Health Policy and Management]. 2013, Nr. 1 (5), p. 188-208. |
| ISSN: | 2029-3569 2029-9001 |
| Popis: | Vartotojų pasitikėjimą Europos Sąjungos maisto kontrolės sistema sukrėtę skandalai lėmė diskusijas dėl poreikio apsaugoti vartotojus pasitelkiant atsakomybės institutą maisto teisėje. Tačiau taikant atsakomybę už maisto tvarkymą reglamentuojančių teisės aktų pažeidimus susiduriama su tam tikrais sunkumais. Didėjanti maisto tvarkymo subjektų sąveika ir sutartiniai jų tarpusavio įsipareigojimai lemia, kad tam pačiam maisto produktui įtakos turi ar gali turėti ne vienas maisto tvarkymo subjektas. Vis dėlto teisės aktų nuostatos vienareikšmiškai atsakyti į klausimą, ar kiekvienas toks maisto tvarkymo subjektas, aptikus nesaugų maisto produktą rinkoje, gali būti vienodai už tai atsakingas, neleidžia. Be to, tai, kad, reglamentuojant maisto tvarkymo subjektų pareigas ir atsakomybę, maisto tvarkymo subjektams nėra užtikrinamas pakankamas teisinis apibrėžtumas, parodė ir Europos Teisingumo Teismo sprendimas Lidl Italia byloje. Tad šiame straipsnyje analizuojami atsakomybės pasidalijimo ypatumai Europos Sąjungos maisto teisėje bei Lietuvos nacionalinės teisės normose, taip pat vertinamas rūpestingumo pareigos kriterijus nustatant, kuriam maisto tvarkymo subjektui priskirtina atsakomybė už maisto tvarkymą reglamentuojančių teisės aktų pažeidimus. The institute of liability in food law has been introduced in order to protect consumers’ rights and health, as well as to restore their confidence in the European Union’s food control system after a number of food scandals, which took place throughout Europe. Interactions between food business operators are becoming increasingly complex and involving more inter-contractual obligations. As a result, food safety of a specific food product can be affected by more than one food business operator. Taking this into account, the article examines the issue as to which food business operator in such case is responsible for the safety and, therefore, is subject to liability. Pursuant to provisions of the European Union food law, regulating the division of responsibilities in the food chain, it is not entirely clear whether food business operators are equally responsible for non-compliance with food law requirements at all production, processing and distribution stages or their responsibility is rather dependent on the exercise of control over business at the respective stage. The author concludes that it would be unreasonable and indeed unfair to apply the rules of joint liability in all cases and accordingly to hold food business operators liable for the problems that may occur off their sphere of responsibility or off their control. The joint liability should not be applied in all cases because of the fact that different food business operators have to apply different standards of due diligence (the highest standards being applicable to producers and importers). The present article suggests that in each case, when the fault is a necessary prerequisite for liability, the content and scope of due diligence of each food business operator should be clarified. This would help to avoid cases of unfounded liability and to prevent unnecessary burden to business. The institute of liability in food law has been introduced in order to protect consumers’ rights and health, as well as to restore their confidence in the European Union’s food control system after a number of food scandals, which took place throughout Europe. Interactions between food business operators are becoming increasingly complex and involving more inter-contractual obligations. As a result, food safety of a specific food product can be affected by more than one food business operator. Taking this into account, the article examines the issue as to which food business operator in such case is responsible for the safety and, therefore, is subject to liability. Pursuant to provisions of the European Union food law, regulating the division of responsibilities in the food chain, it is not entirely clear whether food business operators are equally responsible for non-compliance with food law requirements at all production, processing and distribution stages or their responsibility is rather dependent on the exercise of control over business at the respective stage. The author concludes that it would be unreasonable and indeed unfair to apply the rules of joint liability in all cases and accordingly to hold food business operators liable for the problems that may occur off their sphere of responsibility or off their control. The joint liability should not be applied in all cases because of the fact that different food business operators have to apply different standards of due diligence (the highest standards being applicable to producers and importers). The present article suggests that in each case, when the fault is a necessary prerequisite for liability, the content and scope of due diligence of each food business operator should be clarified. This would help to avoid cases of unfounded liability and to prevent unnecessary burden to business. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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