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Brussels, 17 June 2002
EURO COOP calls on member states to ensure consumer confidence
in the New EUROPEAN FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITY
In the coming days, Member State governments will decide the make-up of the new European Food Safety Authority ("EFSA") Management Board. EURO COOP is deeply concerned about the number of seats on the EFSA Board for consumer organisations: although four seats are reserved for organisations representing consumers or other interests in the food chain, EURO COOP understands however that it is likely that Member States may allocate only one seat to consumer organisations.
"If the EFSA is to successfully restore European consumers' confidence in the food they eat, then Member States must ensure that consumers have a stronger representation on the EFSA Board. This can only be achieved by allocating the maximum number of seats on the EFSA Board to consumer organisations - including EURO COOP" says Dónal Walshe, EURO COOP Secretary General.
As a result of the many food crises across Europe (Mad Cow Disease, BSE, Dioxins, etc.), the main challenge facing European and national authorities has been to regain consumer confidence; European consumers have become much more cautious about the safety and quality of the food they consume.
"The dramatic decrease in meat consumption during the last BSE crisis clearly demonstrated that consumers will not buy food they consider unsafe" continues Mr Walshe. "The EURO COOP candidate for the EFSA Board - Mr Ĺke Natt Och Dag - strongly believes that ensuring the promotion of the necessary coherence between risk assessment, risk management and risk communication will be one of the main challenges of the new EFSA" adds Mr Walshe.
EURO COOP is well-placed to represent the interests of European consumers on the EFSA Board as it is one of the longest-established European consumer organisations: its members were the first European consumer organisations as their roots are in the cooperative movements launched in the 19th century. Today, they are among the most dynamic consumer-owned organisations in Europe covering a range of activities - including food policy. They represent a unique grassroots structure of over 20 million consumers in 15 national associations of consumer cooperatives across Europe.
EURO COOP also has a long history of representing consumers in other EU forums - notably the European Commission Consumer Committee.
Moreover, food Policy has always been a priority for Euro Coop: The EURO COOP Expert Working Group on Food Policy has published a range of position papers on food and food-related issues over the years, all of which have been taken on board by EU institutions.
In summary, EURO COOP urges Member States to ensure consumer confidence in the new EFSA by allocating the maximum number of seats on the EFSA Board to consumer organisations.
For further information, contact:
Dónal WALSHE, Secretary General
or
Aude L'hirondel, Food Policy Officer
Tel.: +32.(0)2.285.00.70 - Fax: +32.(0)2.231.07.57 - E-mail: Info@eurocoop.org
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