Brussels, 9 December 2009: The European Food Sustainable Consumption and Production Round Table announced today that it has formally accepted new membership applications by fourteen EU level food chain organisations.

Launched on 6 May 2009, the Round Table can now count on the support of twenty-three European organisations from across the food chain, as well as the European Commission as co-chair, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the European Environment Agency (EEA). Several Member States are providing expertise to the Round Table.

The Round Table aims to establish scientifically reliable and uniform environmental assessment methodologies for food and drink products and to identify suitable means of voluntary communication along the supply chain as well as to consumers, in order to enable them to make informed choices. The Round Table aims to establish a framework assessment methodology by 2011.

In the six months since its launch, the Round Table has established a comprehensive work schedule, structured around a Steering Committee and four Working Groups, all co-chaired by the European Commission and the food chain constituencies. It has also begun developing principles for the voluntary environmental assessment of food products and communication of environmental information.

“We are pleased that so many new members have decided to join the Round Table. This gives us the critical mass we need to develop a robust European framework methodology endorsed by the whole food chain”, said Pascal Gréverath, Nestlé Director of Environmental Sustainability, Co-chair of the Round Table Steering Committee, “We are also actively encouraging representative NGOs and consumer groups to join the Round Table as equal constituencies, as their contributions are invaluable to facilitate consumer education and behavioural changes”, he continued.

“We welcome the great interest that the Round Table has created among food chain organisations. We wish to encourage in particular representatives from civil society and others who have relevant expertise to join the initiative”, said Herbert Aichinger from the Commission’s DG Environment and Co-chair of the Round Table Steering Committee, “This Round Table offers a unique opportunity for the whole European food chain and its stakeholders to develop a common set of methodologies and tools to meet the challenges set out in the EU’s Sustainable Consumption and Production Action Plan.”

• Download this press release and Notes for editors (.pdf)
• European Food SCP Round Table Presentation