José María Ferrer Villar

Head of Food Regulatory Affairs / Training at AINIA since 2023.

Professional activity mainly focused on food regulatory matters to support companies in the agri-food sector.

Training and capacity building, design of training programmes, national and international projects, and teaching activities.

Head of the Food Law Department at AINIA since 2000, carrying out his activity in the agri-food sector.

Professional activity mainly focused on consultancy and legal advisory services for companies in the agri-food sector. Participation in public projects at regional, national, and international levels, as well as training and capacity-building activities.

Advisory and consultancy services focused on the food sector consisting of:

– Legal studies, opinions and reports.

– Preparation and drafting of technical and legal information.

– Advice and support in activities related to requirements from competent authorities for the agri-food sector.

– Training and capacity building in different areas of Food Law.

• Law Degree (Business Specialization) from the University of Valencia
• Master’s in Innovation and Business Management from the Escuela de Organización Industrial (EOI)

• Requirements applicable to food labelling. 1997–2000.
• Legislative audit in food industries. IMPIVA 2004–2005.
• Creation of the Agro-Food Technology Centre (FTC) in Egypt. AECI. 2002–2003.
• Follow-up cooperation action with the Agro-Food Technology Centre (FTC) and the sector in Egypt. AECI 2004.
• Food safety in Egypt 2004–2005.
• Practical food packaging systems for North African countries to ensure safety and quality.
• Seminar on legal requirements for exporting food to the European Union. Damascus, Syria – June 2005.
• Seminar on European Union food legislation for fruits, vegetables and fisheries products (BTSF Programme). 2006
  • 25–27 April: Fisheries and aquaculture products (Indonesia, Jakarta)
  • 30 May – 2 June: Fruits and vegetables (El Salvador, San Salvador)
  • 20–22 June: Fisheries and aquaculture products (Colombia, Bogotá)
  • 19–21 September: Fruits and vegetables (Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur)
  • 25–27 October: Fisheries and aquaculture products (Senegal, Dakar)
  • 14–16 November: Fruits and vegetables (Tanzania, Dar-es-Salam).
• Assistance in organising workshops on EU food standards in third countries. 2007–08. Financial organisation: DG SANCO (European Commission).
• Assistance in organising training activities in third countries in the field of animal health and food safety (RASFF). 2007–08. Financial organisation: DG SANCO (European Commission).
• Workshops on EU SPS regulation held in Quito, Cuenca, Guayaquil and Machala (Ecuador), from 13 to 21 August 2007. European Commission, “EUROPEAID/122729/D/SER/EC” (EU SPS Regulation within the EXPOECUADOR programme).
• EU–Mexico Free Trade Agreement Project (PROTLCUEM), PROTLCUEM/SENASICA/UE/SER/2006/01 – EuropeAid/124161/D/SER/MX – PROTLCUEM/SENASICA/UE/SER/2006/02.
• Organisation and implementation of food safety training activities in Africa (BTSF) 2009–10. DG SANCO – European Commission.
• Technical assistance in organising training activities in third countries in the field of Animal Health and Food Safety (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed – RASFF). 2007–08, 2009–10 DG SANCO (European Commission).
• Coordination and participation in AINIA BTSF initiative projects from 2006 to 2018.
• Technical assistance to the programme “Support to improve competitiveness and commercial capacity of MSMEs and Cooperatives”. Technical assistance for training on European regulation with emphasis on the new EU Regulation 2017/625 on official controls.
• Guatemala 2021: “Technical Assistance Services in the field of Regional Economic Integration and Trade Facilitation” (DC-LA/2019/408-149).

Publications:

Title: Food Labelling Guide.

Authors: Ramon, I.; Peris, M.J.; Ferrer, J.M.; Donet, M.

Publisher: FEDACOVA/AINIA.

Published in Valencia, ISBN 84-87-345-53-0

Title: Sectoral Labelling Guides. Stimulants, processed vegetable products, sweeteners, meat, dairy products, fishery products and flour-based products.

Authors: Ramon, I.; Peris, M.J.; Ferrer, J.M.; Donet, M.

Publisher: FEDACOVA/AINIA.

Published in Valencia, ISBN 84-87-345-55-7; 84-87-345-55-97; 84-87-345-56-5; 84-87-345-58-1; 84-87-345-57-3; 84-87-345-59-X; 84-87-345-60-3.

Title: Chapter XIII “Classification and prosecution of food fraud in Spain (and within the EU)”. Food Law Lessons 2015–2016.

Author: Ferrer, J.M.

Publisher: Aranzadi.

Published in Pamplona, ISBN 978-84-9098-819-0

• International Seminar on European Union legislation and standards for industrial and consumer products and phytosanitary measures (SPS), Mexico City, 14–16 November 2007 (PROTLCUEM Project).
• Safety aspects and regulatory challenges in nanomaterials, 3–4 May 2012. Poster presentation: “The importance of safety and regulation in nanotechnology applied to the food chain” (Legislation and Packaging Departments).
• EXPO@LEARNING 2024 Training and Food Law: How do we address this challenge? Madrid, 6 March 2024.

• “Food Labelling” (Online course) (42 hours). 02/10/01 to 28/11/01.
• “Application of HACCP in Food Industries” 05/02/02 to 06/02/02.
• “Nutritional Labelling of Foods” AINIA. Alicante, Seville, Madrid and Valencia. 2002.
• “Professional Refresher Course in Food Legislation”. Alicante 30/04/03.
• Technical seminars on food labelling, various locations (Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Valencia), 2003–2018.
• Seminar on quality control applied to the fruit and vegetable sector. Murcia, 4–7 November 2003. Ministry of Agriculture (Spain).
• Seminar on quality control applied to milk and dairy products. Santander, 11–14 November 2003. Ministry of Agriculture (Spain).
• Seminar on food quality control. Valencia, 18–21 November 2003. Ministry of Agriculture (Spain).
• Seminar on quality control applied to olive oil. Córdoba, 25–28 November 2003. Ministry of Agriculture (Spain).
• Food Safety Master’s Degree of the Official College of Veterinarians of Madrid, collaboration in the area of “Agri-food offences and sanctions”. Madrid 2004–2019.
• Online Master’s Degree in Food Legislation. Coordination and teaching, currently 23rd edition. 2004–2025.
• Food Law Course. University of Barcelona. School of Prevention and Integral Security, 29–31 January 2008.
• International Food Law Course. Coordination and teaching (5th edition). 2015–2019.
• Postharvest Treatment in Citrus Course. Polytechnic University of Valencia. “Legal aspects of postharvest products”. Valencia 2018–2025.
• Asersa Open Webinar Series 15: Water Regeneration and Reuse. 23 May 2023.
• San Telmo Sevilla: “General aspects of the Royal Decree on Packaging and Packaging Waste”, 1 June 2023.

• Member of the EFI-Food-Law-Group of European Food Institutes (EFI)
• Member of the Nanotechnology Network in the food sector of AESAN.
• Member of the National Emerging Risks Network (AESAN).
• Member of the Ibero-American Association for Food Law (AIDABA)

Regular contributor to the magazine TECNOALIMEN

Various publications in specialised media in the agri-food sector and related industries:

• AINIA analyses the new regulations that will shape the agri-food agenda in 2025, in EUROCARNE (2025)
• Packaging, waste and deforestation: regulatory keys for the agri-food sector in 2025, in QCOM (2025)
• Regulatory keys for the agri-food sector in 2025, in ARAL (2025)
• Regulatory keys for the agri-food sector in 2025, in MERCACEI (2025)
• The agri-food industry facing a 2025 full of regulatory challenges, in TECHPRESS (2025)
• AINIA analyses the new packaging regulation through 10 key points, in ALIMARKET (2025)
• The new packaging and packaging waste regulation: a turning point for the agri-food sector, in INTEREMPRESAS (2025)
• The new packaging regulation forces the agri-food sector to redefine its strategy, in FINANCIALFOOD (2025)
• Regulatory keys for the agri-food sector in 2025 in ARAL (2025)
• The new packaging regulation will boost sustainability in cosmetic packaging in INDUSTRIA COSMÉTICA (2025)