About the project

CHARGE’s overall objective is to strengthen institutional capacity among food regulatory authorities across the NPA, addressing the complex and fragmented regulatory ecosystem that affects heritage, artisan, and traditional food products. By promoting transnational cooperation, the project will clarify ambiguous regulations and interpretations, embed Indigenous and locally transmitted food knowledge into regulatory processes, and support resilient, culturally rooted food systems in remote Arctic regions. In doing so, CHARGE will foster meaningful cooperation among regulatory food authorities while contributing to the cultural identity and community-readiness goals of the EU Arctic Policy. To achieve these objectives, CHARGE will develop practical tools, guidance, and capacity-building mechanisms for both food regulatory bodies and heritage producers. This includes an evidence-based clarification tool, shared assessment pilots, and a transnational workshop designed to build a common understanding of regulatory challenges and solutions. The project will also support the uptake of joint institutional strategies, helping authorities apply more consistent interpretations across EU and non-EU NPA regions while recognising and protecting Indigenous knowledge and heritage food practices.