摘要:Private sector responses to the challenge of managing food safety are explored. This paper clari.esthe objectives of this special issue, introducing the key issues in each of the following articles. Thedegree and manner of regulatory compliance, an important element of any strategic food safetymanagement decision, are discussed. Separate of the response to regulations, the incentives of .rmsto implement advanced management systems are documented. The paper pays particular attention to.rm efforts to minimize the potential for product recalls. # 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rightsreserved.