Interview with prof. George Mousourakis

In April, the Department of Law, Politics, and International Studies at the University of Parma had the honour of welcoming Professor George Mousourakis as a visiting professor. A distinguished scholar with extensive international academic experience, Professor Mousourakis specializes in areas such as the philosophical foundations of responsibility in criminal law, comparative criminal law and jurisprudence, the history of Roman and civil law traditions, epistemology and methodology of comparative law, legal transplants and the reception of laws, and restorative justice theory and practice.

During his stay, he contributed to the Master's program in International and European Relations, the Law program, and the PhD program in Legal Sciences. On this occasion, he also became acquainted with our Master’s degree program in Global Food Law: Sustainability Challenges and Innovation. We had the opportunity to discuss with him his impressions and thoughts on the field of food law from an international perspective.

Could you please introduce yourself?
My name is George Mousourakis. I’m a professor of comparative and transnational law at the University of Hiroshima in Japan. I have also taught at the University of Auckland in New Zealand for over 20 years, as well as at the University of Queensland in Australia.

Given your extensive international experience, what do you think about an internationally oriented course such as Global Food Law: Sustainability Challenges and Innovation?
I believe that such a course would be extremely useful, given the global nature of food production, trade, and safety regulations. Understanding these issues, including the rules that govern the global food trade, is crucial for legal professionals, policymakers, and those working in the food industry. It helps businesses avoid costly legal disputes and encourages the harmonization of national regulations concerning food production and safety. Additionally, global food law intersects with public health concerns such as food labeling, the use of additives, allergens, and other safety-related matters. Understanding these issues is critical for both policymakers and legal practitioners. Moreover, a course of this kind is important in addressing sustainability, food safety, and the ethical sourcing of food. These are significant global concerns, especially issues like accessibility and equitable access to quality food, an essential human right linked to the broader right to an adequate standard of living. Finally, a course on global food law can serve as a strong foundation for interdisciplinary study and research. It can foster cooperation among scholars and legal practitioners from different countries and legal systems.

In your opinion, what could be the role of a criminal law expert in this context?
Criminal law experts can play a very important role in the context of global food law. First, they can assist and advise law enforcement authorities on detecting, investigating, and prosecuting food-related crimes, such as food fraud, contamination, and the illegal trade of unsafe food products. They can also support lawmakers in drafting penal laws to prevent and combat such offenses. Furthermore, experts in international or transnational criminal law can aid national authorities in pursuing cross-border cases, including the prosecution or extradition of individuals who commit food-related criminal offenses.

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