The food chain approach is a holistic method to ensure food safety along the entire food chain. This approach requires all actors in the food chain to recognize that primary responsibility lies with all those who produce, process, and trade in food. It covers the food chain from field (primary production) to fork (final consumption). Those responsible include farmers/producers, fishers, slaughterhouse operators, food processors, transport operators, and distributors (wholesale and retail). In this approach, the relevant information regarding the safety of food should be provided to the next party in the food chain.

The food chain approach differs from the traditional model where the responsibility for safety tended to concentrate mainly on the food-processing sector. This approach is meant to ensure the production and supply of safe food products.