The seminar on 25/01/00 on the White Paper attracted more than 200 participants from industry, the member States, the European Parliament and Commission.

In his opening address, Mr Laberg�re, the President of the CIAA, spoke of the industry's reassurance that the European institutions are taking food safety seriously as demonstrated by the publication of the European Commission's White Paper just three months after the inauguration of the Prodi Commission.

The President emphasised how important it is to the industry that consumer confidence be restored and how industry sees the White Paper as a significant milestone in that direction.

He went on to stress that the industry would not accept just being an observer of the proceedings. � We want to be seen as a full partner and will play our role to its full. �

Commissioner Liikanen reiterated that food safety is a priority issue for the Commission and Europe. His new role as Commissioner combines responsibility for the competitiveness of European industries with rull association with food policy. This demonstrates how � food safety goes hand in hand with industrial competitiveness. �

Moreover, he added, � There should be no contradiction between the objective of ensuing safety of food, the necessity of ensuing the effective operation of the single market, the desire to reinforce the attractiveness of Europe as a location for investment and the goal of maintaining and improving the competitiveness of EU industry. �

He spoke of :

• how regulation must ensure food safety and free movement of goods without stifling innovation ;
• how the perception that food is no longer safe must be corrected � because it is partly wrong �, � or be given solutions (where there are serious loopholes in the safety of the food chain. �I

On innovation, Commissioner Liikanen spoke of striving � for easier uptake of innovation in this sector to allow our industry to compete globally and our consumers to reap the benefits of advances in technology. �

He highlighted, in particular, that the White Paper states that issues such functional and nutritional claims and food supplements and fortified foods will be examined with a view to � ensuring the effective operation of the Single Market, widening consumer choice and promoting open and fair competition for all business partners. �

The Commissioner went on to stress that "It is important to ensure the role of industry as of other players is fully entrusted in the setting up of (the European Food) Authority."

In conclusion, he said, "Legislation and the general business environment must enable the food industry to produce products as safe and nutritious as they an possibly be, while being competitive and remaining an important employer and contributor to the EU national product."

Mr Gert Schipper, the Chairman of the CIAA Internal Market Committee spoke on how the White Paper is the opportunity to modernise the EU Food [Safety] System and on how and whether it will solve the inter-related issues of the general principles of food law, consumer information and the legislative process.

He went on to indicate what is wrong with the current regulatory framework, namely:

• the lack of basic framework law;
• procedures being too lengthy, non-transparent and unpredictable;
• the Internal Market not functioning as it should.

He urged that the general directive on food law should be in place before the legislative programme is started - and not the other way round as is the case in the White Paper.

Finally, Mr Schipper expressed his hope that the penultimate sentence of the White paper, "strong involvement of all operators - bearing prime responsibility for daily application, were not empty words.

Mr Chris Collins, Chairman of the CIAA Task Force on Food Safety, spoke about:

1. an integrated food chain - ensuring that every member can trust every other member in the chain and that no sector is subjected to unreasonable burdens;
2. the various responsibilities of each of the parties directly responsible for food safety ie. the Commission, Member State governments, producers, manufacturers and retailers, and consumers to ensure that food safety is delivered through a culture of partnership;;
3. crisis management whereby a centralised control is established with only one source of information, advice and instruction

Mrs Marie-Odile Gailing, Chairman of the CIAA Expert Group on Health Claims, addressed "A Legislative Framework which encourages Innovation". Mrs Gailing went on to describe the obstacles that are put in the way of innovative companies and in particular with regard to trying to make a health claim, where the White Paper appears to confuse medical and health claims. She gave her support to the parliament's resolution of 10.03.98, which supported the use of health claims based on scientific evidence.

Professor Matthias Horst, Vice-President of the CIAA Internal Market Committee, spoke on "The Key Elements of a European Food Authority", giving CIAA's support for an EFA as an important element of an integrated European food policy.

In particular, Dr Horst emphasised that such an Authority must be well-staffed, well-resourced, independent and quickly establish itself as an international, pre-eminent body of scientific excellence, whose decisions are not disputable.

Dr Horst closed by stressing CIAA's preparedness to play a full role in the creation of such an EFA.

Finally, Mr Deboyser et Mrs Brunko, the co-authors of the White Paper responded to a range of questions.

(All speeches and documents are available upon request from the CIAA secretariat

The Environment Day of the CIAA

On 30.11.99, CIAA organised the first Environment Day of the Food and >Drink Industry. The event attracted a large and diverse audience composed of representatives from the European Commission, the

European Parliament, Economic and Social Committee, ministries of both Member States and non-member States and experts from the food and drink industry, as well as from other industrial sectors.
It was a dynamic information and discussion session during which companies from throughout Europe presented case studies illustrating how the food and drink industry is constantly striving to improve its environmental performances at every point along the food chain.

The day was divided into four thematic sections on:

• environmental management of raw materials;
• transformation of raw materials;
• packaging and distribution;
• environmental management systems and integrated products policy.

The CIAA was able to deliver the following messages:

• Environmental protection is a fundamental priority for the food and drink industry;
• The food and drink industry guarantees consumers safe and quality products, whilst at the same time monitoring environmental protection all along the food chain;
• responsibility for a coherent environmental policy must be shared throughout the food chain;
• CIAA is determined to intensify the dialogue with European and national decision-makers in the environmental field.

Negotiations at the WTO

CIAA attended the Third Ministerial Conference in Seattle as an NGO and sought to demonstrate its desire that the multilateral process be continued with a view to establishing clearer and fairer rules.

CIAA made two principal interventions via press releases. The first indicated that CIAA could not accept proposals concerning internal support, access to markets and export competition. For the food and drink industry, recognition of the close interdependence of these three areas is fundamental to the WTO negotiations. At the same time, CIAA urged the negotiators to respect the mandate handed down to them by the Council in October 1999.

(Both CIAA's position paper on the WTO negotiations -REX/115/99E-Fin - and the press releases are available from the Secretariat).

For further information, please contacts Mrs Nicky Denning, Communications Officer, at the CIAA secretariat.