Welcome to this edition of CIAA’s e-newsletter.  I am pleased to start off by announcing that we have recently published our Annual report highlighting the work, progress, achievements and future challenges of the EU food and drink industry.  You can download the complete report by clicking here and free copies can also be ordered via our website.

In April, CIAA hosted a very successful dinner debate to mark the second anniversary of the EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health and to launch our report Promoting Balanced Diets and Healthy Lifestyles – Europe’s Food and Drink Industry In Action.  While this report only highlights a few of the many activities undertaken by the food and drink industry, it does clearly demonstrate that we do not shy away from the challenge and are committed to fighting obesity.  We are doing this on all relevant fronts including increased choice and reformulated products, consumer information and labelling, marketing and advertising, public-private partnerships and healthy lifestyle education.

CIAA has also been busy with a number of key regulatory issues over the past few months, notably the so-called "food improvement agents package" which consists of a package of four proposals on the consolidation and updating of additives and flavourings legislation, the introduction of new EU legislation to harmonise the safety assessment and use of food enzymes and a proposal for a common authorisation procedure for additives, enzymes and flavourings.  CIAA has been actively putting forward the industry position as these proposals make their way through the European Parliament and Council to ensure that they meet the needs of industry and are conducive to innovation and technological developments in our sector.

Better regulation continues to be high on CIAA’s agenda.  Unfortunately, we have recently seen some of examples where worse rather than better regulations have been proposed.  I refer specifically to the issues of Claims and Hygiene.  On both occasions, CIAA has actively defended the interests of the food and drink industry and we will continue to provide constructive feedback in the future.

Bonne lecture!