The event was organised by the EU Commission, bringing together key stakeholders, to mark 15 years of EU General Food Law and to take stock of the current situation and the benefits of it. The need for additional elements to complement General Food Law were also examined.
Speaking in Brussels, Chairwoman of Copa and Cogeca Foodstuffs Working Party Annette Toft said “A priority for us is to ensure that the objectives of this important piece of legislation are met and are effective. The legislation aims to guarantee a high level of protection for human and animal health, shielding consumers from misleading and fraudulent practices. It aims to ensure that the internal market functions well and an integrated approach from farm to fork is taken”.
“One of the fundamental principles of the General Food Law is also to ensure that decisions relating to safety are supported by sound scientific evidence and this is crucial for Copa and Cogeca. It’s important to bear in mind that the General Food Law contributed to the establishment of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which plays a key role in providing sound scientific opinions and guarantees for the health and well-being of our European consumers. It’s consequently crucial that the EU institutions respect these objectives when making decisions on issues relating to food, feed and plant protection products, otherwise confidence in our system will be lost. Farmers and their cooperatives also need predictability and stability in order to plan ahead ”, Copa and Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen concluded.
