Inside this issue

• Editorial
• CIAA Event: CIAA Congress 2010
• Fifth anniversary of the EU Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (DPAH)
• CIAA Dinner Debate on the Competitiveness of the European Agri-food Industry From the High Level Group to the Forum
• ETP 2010 Conference - `Working together on societal challenges`
• European Food SCP Round Table Plenary meeting
• Recent Publications
• Personnel Changes

  Editorial

Welcome to the second CIAA e-Newsletter of 2010.

Midway through the year and the start of the Belgian Presidency of the EU, CIAA is focusing on a number of key dossiers for the industry including developments in the Food Information to Consumers legislation and the Novel Foods legislation in the European Parliament; we are also busy organising this year’s CIAA Congress which takes place on 18 and 19 November.

The CIAA has undergone significant changes within the organisation itself over the past year: Working under new governance rules, a committed Board and a redefined mission and Roadmap, CIAA has become a more modern, efficient organisation whose increasing pro-activeness has resulted in both increased and improved communications, successful efforts in raising awareness about the challenges the industry faces, especially when it comes to maintaining competitiveness and meeting increasingly complex legislative requirements.

On food labelling, CIAA welcomed the positive signal sent by MEPs following the recent First Reading plenary vote on the Commission proposal for a Regulation on the Provision of Food Information to Consumers. Endorsement by MEPs for GDAs within the scope of the Commission’s proposal signals real progress in support of our voluntary nutrition labelling scheme, which is being successfully rolled out by food and drink manufacturers (large and small alike) as well as a host of major retailers across Europe and beyond. Following a lively debate, MEPs voted for labelling rules that will enable consumers to make healthy, well-informed choices, while limiting as far as possible the administrative and financial burden on food businesses. CIAA will continue to follow the discussions closely in the Council over the course of the coming months under the Belgian Presidency.

Yesterday, MEPs voted on the second reading of the Recast Novel Foods legislation.

CIAA welcomes the balanced outcome of the vote. Several important amendments were adopted, including rules on data protection. We are, however, concerned about the adoption of nanotechnology labelling and we now look to the Council for leadership, logic and practicality as it prepares for its position at second reading. This contentious proposal may go to a third reading and subsequently conciliation in order to reach a final position.

As you know, this year is a Congress year for the CIAA and our Congress theme is:

The European Food and Drink Industry`s Vision for 2020: People, Planet & Partnership - Challenges and opportunities for a more competitive industry

Special high-level speakers include Commissioner John Dalli (Health and Consumer Policy), Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn (Research, Innovation and Science), Vice President Antonio Tajani (Industry and Entrepreneurship) and Commissioner Janez Potočnik (Environment) as well as EFSA’s Exectuive Director Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle and a number of senior industry speakers.

The Congress 2010 website is now on-line with all the details including the latest updates on confirmed speakers. More information can be found at: http://www.ciaacongress2010.eu. Registration is now open so participants can take advantage of the early-bird fee for both CIAA members and non-members.

Bonne Lecture !