Melissa Card-Abela

Adjunct Professor
Law College Building
648 N. Shaw Lane Rm 368
East Lansing, MI 48824-1300
cardmeli@msu.edu

  • Biography

    Melissa M. Card joined the MSU College of Law faculty in 2016 as a Global Food Law instructor and Associate Director of the Institute for Food Laws & Regulations. Previously, Professor Card was an associate in the Food, Beverage & Hospitality and Litigation Practice Groups of Clark Hill PLC where she assisted food manufacturers on regulatory food and beverage law issues by ensuring companies comply with numerous regulations.

    Professor Card graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School with a certification in Health Law and Bioethics. A former professional ballerina, she completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan in 2011, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with concentrations in Spanish and Anthropology.

  • Courses

    Food Regulation in Canada
    This course is designed for anyone who must understand the legal and regulatory complexities of the flow of food and agricultural products as they make their way from the farm gate to the grocery store shelves in Canada. This course will examine federal statutes and regulations including the Canada Agricultural Products Act, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labeling Act, the Fish Inspection Act and the Meat Inspection Act.

    FSMA FSVP Rule
    This course provides students with the legal perspective of FDA’s Foreign Supplier Verification Program of the Food Safety Modernization Act. This course has an administrative overtone, providing an understanding of the legislative and regulatory processes through an in-depth look at the relationship between the Food and Drug Administration, industry, consumer interest groups, and science communities.

    FSMA Preventive Controls Rule
    This course provides students with the legal perspective of FDA’s Preventive Controls for Human Food Rule of the Food Safety Modernization Act. This course has an administrative overtone, providing an understanding of the legislative and regulatory processes through an in-depth look at the relationship between the Food and Drug Administration, industry, consumer interest groups, and science communities.

    FSMA Produce Safety Rule
    This course provides students with the legal perspective of FDA’s Produce Safety Rule of the Food Safety Modernization Act. This course has an administrative overtone, providing an understanding of the legislative and regulatory processes through an in-depth look at the relationship between the Food and Drug Administration, industry, consumer interest groups, and science communities.

    Regulatory Leadership in Food Law
    In the modern regulatory state, the attorney or regulatory affairs manager is looked to for counsel on more than just the meaning of black letter law, but also for guidance and leadership in dealing with agencies, particularly in adverse or high-stakes situations. This course will provide students with an introduction to regulatory affairs through the regulation of food. Among other concepts, this course will cover: the nature of the regulatory process; the role of regulatory affairs; the practical application of regulatory affairs; tools and strategies concerning regulatory affairs; the nature of assessing and communicating risk; quality controls and management; compliance; and judicial review of agency decisions.

Faculty & Staff