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  • Publication | 2026
Regulatory options to address food e-commerce in national legislation
Global Food and Nutrition Security

This legislative study examines the challenges of food e-commerce, particularly with regards to food safety and consumer protection, and looks at how – and first of all, if – different legal systems have addressed this phenomenon from a regulatory standpoint. Even if online trade of food has grown at an unprecedented speed in recent years, food e-commerce regulation – both international and national – has not necessarily followed the same pace. This legislative study identifies several recommendations to guide policy and rule makers in their mission to build effective regulatory mechanisms towards safety and compliance on food e-commerce channels. It suggests a multidisciplinary regulatory approach, integrating existing frameworks with new rules where necessary. Considering the inherent cross-border nature of food e-commerce and the extensive role of online platforms in today’s economy, this study also focuses on the importance of international regulatory guidance and the involvement of private self- and co-regulatory schemes to complement national frameworks.