Environmental protection in food industry with special emphasis on water protection

It has already been confirmed that the uncontrolled technological development is the major cause of the reduction of natural resources and environmental pollution. The impact of environmental protection on food industry and vice versa is much larger and more important than it appears. This paper will discuss the relationship of the environment and the food industry in more detail and the impact the food industry has on the environment. Special attention will be given to the importance and protection of water in food industry. Environmental protection is considered to be a global problem, therefore, this issue will be discussed through the prism of international conventions, principles, standards and regulations that define the rules of conduct in relation to the environment. Water, as a main natural resource, is of great importance for the functioning of food industry and it has established strict obligations of treating wastewater that originates from its technological processes, which will be presented through examples of most important activities of the food industry. In consideration of these issues, legal protection of the environment in Serbia though legal and other regulations will be presented as well.