PR: EU food operators call on the EC to strengthen commitment to food authenticity initiatives

The set of recommendations discussed at the conference mainly focus on the need for food operators to continue their private initiatives to promote food integrity and authenticity and to further share and promote best practice while the Commission and National authorities were invited to recognise private initiatives. Closer cooperation, coordination and information sharing with Member States and private operators should continue. Participants acknowledged that innovation on the part of food businesses can play a key role in putting in place laboratory techniques that will guarantee food authenticity and integrity. Recommendations also include that Member States and the European Commission should continue their efforts at reinforcing the implementation of the legislation, while strengthening sanctions when applicable.

Bernard Van Goethem, Director Directorate G, Crisis management in food, animals and plant at the Directorate General of SANTE, announced that “the new Official Control Regulation negotiated between the three Institutions and endorsed by COREPER on 22nd June is a positive step. It will not only enable competent authorities to modernise and strengthen their controls against fraudulent practices (for example unannounced official controls; reinforced rules on administrative assistance and cooperation; reinforcement of rules on financial penalties) but the Commission will also be able to establish a new EU Reference center for food authenticity and integrity”.

Mr. Bongiovanni, Euro Coop's President states ‘Today and in the future, technology in all its manifestations enables a better relationship among operators in the industry, between the distribution and its customers – in our sector, the consumer members. Many are the best practices that cooperatives have been putting in place throughout Europe on issues such as transparency, information, prevention and controls. These practices are

necessary to increase the collective responsibility as a common good for our European citizens, for producers and distributors and to build quality barriers aimed at guaranteeing consumers safety instead of promoting a rather irrelevant protectionism’.

Jos Goebbels, Moderator of the conference and UECBV Vice-President stressed that “Awareness of food operators to put internal systems in place to guarantee food integrity and authenticity is there and increasing. Together with an adapted communication explaining these procedures will guarantee trust of consumers in their products”.