The European Food Summit Brussels, 11-12 April 2002

- Consumers are becoming more sophisticated and better educated. They expect to be consulted and informed and they trust independance.
Consumer representatives must therefore be on the Board of EFSA.

- EFSA, that has to be independant and multidisciplinarian, will need to experiment ways of consulting and informing Consumers.

- Reducing and qualifying risk is vital. People do not like risks that they cannot control. Consumers must have information on GMOs.

- Other priorities relate to nutrition, habits of the children, more affordable food for low income consumers that should not have to face higher food risks.

- Ethics is also an increasing concern, specially regarding animal welfare, environment and third world labour standards.
The Fair-trade Movement offers a positive route.

- Effective implementation and enforcement of EU food law must be a priority for the future. Minimum EU Standards of enforcement have to be established with effective audit procedures.