50 Years of Food Safety in the European Union

Speech by EU Commissioner Markos Kyprianou

I am delighted to see experts of all generations gathered to share their experiences, memories and ideas on food safety in Europe and to celebrate 50 years of food safety in the EU.

There are even people here who may recall the day that the first pieces of EU food safety legislation entered into force. (1964 – Animal Health Directive and Meat Directive)  

We have made Food Safety a top priority, and our work has paid off.

As a result, there is a growing level of consumer confidence in Europe: much higher than it was a decade ago.

It has taken hard work and solid commitment to rebuild this trust, which suffered a heavy set-back following the crises of the 1990s.

Today, however, we can reassure consumers that the Standard of Food Safety in Europe is among the highest in the world and that quick preventive action will be taken if any threats arise.

This is thanks to:

The comprehensive body of legislation built up at EU level

The diligent work carried out by the Food and Veterinary Office and Member State authorities

The reliable food safety tools in place, such as the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed

Modern consumer expectations extend beyond the product on the shelf.

Public awareness of how food is produced has grown exponentially in recent years.

EU citizens want to know that the animals at the origin of their food are healthy and well-treated.

They demand safe plant products, which have been produced without harming the environment.

They expect proper hygiene practices to have been applied in the production chain and any substances which are added to food to be verifiably safe.

Finally, they want to be fully and properly informed of what they are buying and eating.

The EU food safety policy, with its “farm to fork” approach, responds to all of these demands.

An excellent example of how the whole feed and food chain is regulated to ensure that the end-product is safe is our Salmonella control programme.

Reducing the incidence of Salmonella at farm level is the key to lowering its incidence through the rest of the food chain, and, ultimately, to protecting EU consumers.

Therefore, our Salmonella reduction measures start from the feed given to the chickens, and apply right through to the egg on the table.

Of course, consumer confidence is much more easily lost than gained.

For that reason, we cannot slacken in our efforts. We must remain constantly alert to changing situations and potential threats.

Our food safety rules must continue to be rigorously implemented in every Member State.

Checks and controls must be properly carried out, to ensure compliance right across the EU.

We must continue to strengthen our communication networks, so that relevant information is shared and problems are swiftly and effectively dealt with.

We must work to ensure the greatest possible transparency for the public on food safety issues.   

Since I took up the post of Health Commissioner, there have been some considerable challenges to face in the areas of food safety and animal health.

There have also been significant achievements.

Looking back on the past 3 years, we have worked together to combat some serious threats to food safety (such as the Sudan dyes problem) and animal health (such as Avian Influenza).

Overall, our harmonised and collaborative approach has proven very successful.

It would be fair to say that the sum of our efforts is much greater if we were to act on our own.

In the last few years, new rules have been implemented which respond to consumer demand and have a real and positive impact on how the food and feed chain are run.

Examples include the Hygiene Package, Animal Welfare in Transport, and the Health and Nutrition Claims Regulation.

In addition, many important pieces of legislation have been updated, such as the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Directive, the Official Food and Feed Controls Regulation, the proposed Pesticides Regulation and our animal welfare rules.

The aim is to ensure that our legislation is fully in line with the latest scientific advice and technological developments.

The European Food Safety Authority plays a crucial role in this respect, providing the Commission with independent and reliable scientific opinions.  

Just last month, the Commission adopted the Community Animal Health Policy (CAHP) for 2007-13.

This new strategy maps out the future of animal health policy in Europe, and was drawn up on the basis of experience gained over the years.

It takes the broadest possible approach, integrating all relevant sectors and policy areas, including food safety.

This means that any animal health measures implemented in the future will have a real social and economic impact, and benefit every single European citizen.

It is not just European citizens that benefit from our food safety and animal health measures.

During my visits abroad as Commissioner, I have seen so many other countries use the EU as a reference point when working to raise their own food safety standards.

Our work to support third countries (especially developing countries), through initiatives such as Better Training for Safer Food, means greater food safety for citizens in these countries, as well as safe and varied imports for EU consumers.

I have touched on just a very small cross-section of the work that has been done.

There are many more examples of measures and actions taken which have boosted and protected food safety in the EU, and many of you here were directly involved in these success stories.

There are also a number of important food safety issues in the pipeline.

Some examples of the proposals which the Commission will bring forward in the coming months are:

-          New provisions on General and Nutritional labelling, which will provide consumers with clearer and more accurate information to help them in their food choices

-          Amendements to update and improve the Novel Foods Regulation

-          New rules on Feed Labelling

-          Amendments to the Animal By-Products legislation

-          I hope that we can rely on your strong support for these initiatives.

-          I would like to thank you all for the excellent work you have done on a daily basis in the Member States, at the borders, and in the committees to maintain the high level of food safety in Europe on which our citizens rely.

-          I hope and expect this close cooperation to continue for many years to come and that we will still be celebrating European food safety in another 50 years.