Food manufacturer liability and the consumer’s responsibility in the italian legal system

Abstract

Since the beginning of this century, European Community lawmakers, aware of the risks associated with food consumption, have been increasingly tightening the rules under public law aimed at offering consumers preventive protection to ensure the health and safety of food products. The question that the interpreter poses, then, is that of ascertaining whether, and to what degree, a connection exists between public law concerning food safety - aimed at offering consumers preventive protection against damage to human health - and the provisions governing private torts law.

Desde el principio de este siglo, el Legislador europeo, consciente de los riesgos relativos al consumo alimentario, ha ido incrementando el rigor de las normas de Derecho público, con la finalidad de ofrecer a los consumidores una tutela preventiva que asegure la seguridad y salubridad de los productos alimentarios. De ahí surge la cuestión de identificar y graduar la conexión existente entre el Derecho público que regula la seguridad alimentaria y las previsiones propias del Derecho privado en el ámbito de los daños resarcibles