Welcome to this edition of the CIAA newsletter.

As the end of the year approaches, so the work of the High Level Group on the Competitiveness of the Agro-Food industry progresses. The HLG was set up by Vice-President Verheugen and is composed of several Commissioners, Ministers from selected Member States, the European Food and Drink industry, and other high level representatives of professional associations and civil society. The Group was formally launched last June and is due to publish its report and recommendations next spring. Over the summer months several technical working groups met with the Commission services to make progress in a wide range of issues including access to competitive raw materials, trade and agricultural policy, better regulation, R&D and many others. The Sherpa group has also met several times, the next meeting is scheduled on 14th November.

The Food Information proposal continues to be an important topic for the CIAA and we follow progress in the European Commission and in the European Parliament very closely. Recent EP hearings provided industry with the opportunity to voice its opinions on nutrition labelling and novel foods. Meanwhile, CIAA’s members are pushing ahead with the GDA labelling scheme, and despite the financial crisis, have confirmed their commitments to the Diet, Physical Activity and Health platform of DG Sanco.

Everyone at the CIAA is looking forward to our Congress, which will take place on the 27th and 28th of this month at Autoworld Brussels. I am delighted to announce that registrations are ongoing and places are rapidly filling up! An updated and detailed programme is available on the Congress website. We look forward to welcoming you there.

Bonne lecture!

Mella Frewen
CIAA Director General