Balancing Public Health and Economic Interests: Analyzing the EU's Hygiene Package through Embedded Liberal and Mercantilist Lenses A congruence analysis of the EU’s 2006 hygiene package

This research examines the debate on whether the European Union (EU) operates more as an embedded liberal or mercantilist power, using the 2006 hygiene package for products of animal origin as a case study. This regulation was introduced to enhance food safety standards, restore consumer confidence, and harmonize EU standards following late 20th-century food safety crises. By applying embedded liberal and mercantilist theoretical frameworks, the study reveals that the package predominantly aligns with embedded liberal principles, emphasizing transparency, scientific evidence, and consumer protection through mechanisms like the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems. However, it also incorporates mercantilist elements, with stringent standards and the precautionary principle acting as non-tariff barriers to protect domestic industries. This dual approach has led to trade disputes, highlighting the tension between liberal trade facilitation and mercantilist market protection. The study contributes to the discourse on EU trade policy by illustrating the complex interplay between public health and economic interests.