Food labelling should be priority for Greek presidency

06-Jan-2014 - Last updated on 24-Jul-2024 at 14:10 GMT

Industry consultation on new food labelling rules should be one the Greek presidency's four key priorities, says FoodDrinkEurope

The Greek presidency of the EU Council should make industry consultation on new food labelling rules one of its four key priorities, says the European food manufacturers’ organisation FoodDrinkEurope.

It was vital the food and drink industry is “duly consulted during the ongoing implementation discussions about the new EU labelling rules”, it said. Discussion of the measures which influence food and drink manufacturing was particularly important.

The Food Manufacture Group has teamed up with law firm DWF to stage a free, one-hour webinar on the Food Information Regulation (FIR) at 11am on Thursday February 20. Email Michael.stones@wrbm.com to reserve your free place. See more details at the end of this article.

FoodDrinkEurope’s priorities for the presidency were grouped across four key policy areas: promoting a food and drink industrial policy, innovating for growth, promoting balanced diets and healthy lifestyles and encouraging a more sustainable business model.

Balanced diets

The organisation called on the presidency to develop “an ambitious and proactive policy for food and drink and establishing a permanent high-level forum to enforce this policy”.

It should also deliver a European innovation union – both by promoting a science-based approach to new technologies and by overcoming bottlenecks to bring new products to the market.

Lastly, FoodDrinkEurope urged the presidency to support the implementation of its joint declaration on food waste ‘Every crumb counts’. The joint stakeholder initiative aimed to prevent edible food waste, and promote a life-cycle approach to reducing wastage.

Progress on these topics was vital to boost the competitiveness of Europe’s food and drink manufacturers, said the organisation.

Biggest manufacturing sector

FoodDrinkEurope president, Jesús Serafín Pérez welcomed the Greek presidency of the Council. “As the biggest manufacturing sector in the EU in terms of turnover and employment, we look forward to engaging actively with the Greek Presidency on key priorities in order to ensure the sustained growth of Europe’s food and drink sector,” said Pérez.

More details of FoodDrinkEurope’s wish list are available here.

The Greek presidency of the Council began on January 1 2014 and runs until June 30 this year.

Meanwhile, Premier Foods will be taking part in the webinar on February 20. Alasdair Tucker, head of regulatory affairs at Premier Foods and chairman of the Food and Drink Federation’s Food Law & labelling Committee, will explain how one of Britain’s largest food manufacturers is preparing for the changes enshrined in FIR.

More information is available here. To reserve you free place, email Michael.stones@wrbm.com.

FoodDrinkEurope’s Greek presidency wish list

• Develop a policy for food and drink and establishing a permanent high-level forum to enforce this policy.

• Deliver a genuine European innovation union by promoting a science-based approach to new technologies and by overcoming new product bottlenecks.

• Ensure the food and drink industry is consulted during the implementation discussions about the new EU labelling rules.

• Supporting the implementation of the joint declaration on food wastage ‘Every Crumb Counts’.