Governing food safety through meso-institutions: A cross-country analysis of the dairy sector

This article builds on new institutional economics to characterize the functions played by meso-institutions in bridging the gap between the macro-institutional layer at which general rules are established and the micro-institutional layer within which transactions are organized. The argument is substantiated through a comparative analysis of the regulatory settings designed to secure the safety of raw milk in Brazil, Canada, and Italy. We show that similar rules may lead to very different operational impact, depending on the arrangements through which these rules are implemented. The analysis also points out some consequences for the organization of supply chains and public policies.