EU Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002

Author: Maren Fichtner | October 2, 2026

Definition: What is EU Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002?

EU Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002, also known as the Basic Regulation of European Food Law or the General Food Law, establishes the fundamental principles and requirements of food and feed law in the EU. It defines key terms such as “food” and “food business operator,” mandates complete traceability, and establishes the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), thereby forming the legal foundation upon which downstream regulations such as the Food Information Regulation (LMIV) are based.

Publisher: European Union

Legal basis: Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002

To whom does EU Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 apply?

It applies to all food and feed business operators throughout the entire supply chain – from primary agricultural production through processing and packaging to retail, import, and the food service industry. Virtually every business in the EU that deals with food or feed falls within its scope.

Overview of core requirements

Traceability (Art. 18): complete documentation of suppliers and customers in accordance with the “one step back, one step forward” principle
Responsibility of business operators (Art. 17, 19): primary responsibility for the safety of products placed on the market lies with the business operator itself
Obligation to recall and withdraw products (Art. 19): immediate action must be taken when safety risks are identified
Risk analysis as a fundamental principle: risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication as the basis for all regulations
RASFF rapid alert system: EU-wide reporting and coordination in the event of identified risks
Precautionary principle: possibility of provisional measures in cases of unclear scientific risk assessment

Difference from LMIV

Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 is the overarching framework regulation: It stipulates that food must be safe, that food business operators are responsible for their products, and that complete traceability must be ensured. The Food Information Regulation (LMIV) builds on this foundation and specifically regulates what information must be provided to consumers on the packaging – such as the list of ingredients, nutrition facts, and allergens. Put simply: The Framework Regulation ensures safety and traceability behind the scenes, while the Food Information Regulation ensures transparency for consumers on the packaging.

Consequences of noncompliance

Inadequate traceability under Article 18 delays the identification of affected batches in an emergency and often forces companies to conduct an overly cautious mass recall instead of a targeted recall – resulting in correspondingly high costs and reputational damage. Authorities can impose fines for violations of recall or reporting requirements and, in an emergency, prohibit further distribution; incidents reported via RASFF are also made visible throughout the EU.

Frequently asked questions about Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002

Is the regulation required by law?

Yes, as an EU regulation, it is directly applicable law without requiring national implementation.

What, specifically, does Article 18 require?

Complete traceability of suppliers and customers based on the “one step back, one step forward” principle.

What is the difference from the LMIV?

The Basic Regulation governs safety and traceability, while the LMIV governs the specific consumer information provided on the packaging.

What is RASFF?

The European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed Risks, through which authorities and companies report incidents across the EU.

Successfully implementing Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002

The key operational question in the event of a recall is: Which finished product batches contain an affected raw material batch, and to which customers were they shipped? Connected worker platforms like weasl automatically link raw material batches to production orders, finished product batches, and delivery destinations, providing this impact analysis in seconds rather than days – the foundation for a targeted recall rather than a mass recall.

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