Agricultural health as a guarantee of food safety in Ecuador. Legal analysis and challenges in its application
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4972-2360
This research aims to analyze agricultural and livestock health as an essential component for ensuring food security in Ecuador from a legal perspective, based on the premise that access to safe, nutritious, and high-quality food is a human right, one that is supported by the Ecuadorian Constitution as well as by specific regulations within the agri-food system. However, the main issue arises in the effective implementation of current legislation, particularly the Organic Law on Agricultural and Livestock Health and the regulations issued by Agrocalidad, which faces serious challenges. These include the State’s limited capacity for oversight, low compliance with sanitary obligations by producers and sellers, and weak enforcement of sanctions for violations. This situation has allowed the circulation of agricultural products that do not meet minimum health standards, thereby affecting public health and food sovereignty. Although the legal framework clearly establishes responsibilities and control mechanisms, regulatory, institutional, and coordination gaps still persist. This article seeks to identify these barriers, assess their impact on the quality of food consumed by the population, and propose legal and administrative alternatives to strengthen agricultural and livestock health governance in the country.
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