The notion of "food law" is defined in article 3 (1) of the Regulation (EC) No 178/20002 of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety. Accordingly, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions governing food in general and food safety in particular, whether at Community or national level, covers any stage of production, processing and distribution of food, and also of feed produced for, or fed to, food producing animals.