Press Release: Smarter rules for safer food: Commission proposes landmark package to modernise, simplify and strengthen the agri-food chain in Europe

The European Commission on 6 May 2013 adopted a package of measures to strengthen the enforcement of health and safety standards for the whole agri-food chain. Food safety is essential to ensure consumers' confidence and sustainability of food production.

The package of measures provide a modernised and simplified, more risked-based approach to the protection of health and more efficient control tools to ensure the effective application of the rules guiding the operation of the food chain.

The package responds to the call for better simplification of legislation and smarter regulation thus reducing administrative burden for operators and simplifying the regulatory environment. Special consideration is given to the impact of this legislation on SMEs and micro enterprises which are exempted from the most costly and burdensome elements in the legislation.

• Primary Source

European Commission: Rapid: MEMO/13/398: Smarter rules for safer food: Commission proposes landmark package to modernise, simplify and strengthen the agri-food chain in Europe http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-398_en.htm

European Commission: Rapid: MEMO/13/406: Speaking points of Commissioner Borg on the Animal & Plant Health Package http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-406_en.htm

EurActiv, 06.05.13: EU tables revised food safety rules on back of horsemeat scandal http://www.euractiv.com/health/brussels-calls-stronger-food-saf-news-519561

EUObserver, 06.05.13: Seed industry to benefit from new EU regulation, NGO says http://euobserver.com/environment/120045

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