Byrne to unveil plan to tackle food ‘health’ claims

Date: 21/11/02

By Karen Carstens

EVER wondered what really lies behind labels on food products such as 'heart smart' and 'lite'?

David Byrne certainly has, and he's decided to do something about it: the health and consumer affairs commissioner is set to unveil his plans on regulating such 'health claims' on Monday (25 November) at a food policy conference in Brussels hosted by European Voice.

'This is a very important speech for us,' said Byrne spokeswoman Beate Gminder, 'because he will be mentioning many of these things for the first time in public.

'There is no EU legislation yet in this area.'

Byrne aims to shed a 'pre-spotlight' on his plans to combat often misleading health claims and 'false advertising'. A draft directive is expected before next Spring, she added.

The two-day 'future food policy' conference, which ends on Tuesday, will also be addressed by José Manuel Silva Rodríguez, director general of DG Agriculture, and Tibor Szanyi, Hungary's deputy agriculture minister.

One of the key areas under discussion will be Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler's proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which currently eats up some €40 billion - more than half the EU's annual budget.

Jacques Chirac, the French president, hatched a behind-the-scenes deal with German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder before the start of last month's Brussels summit which appears to delay reform until 2006.

But Fischler, speaking to Irish farmers on 11 November, insisted the summit conclusions do not put all of his reform measures on ice.

'The heads of state do not expressly rule out the possibility of the mid-term review being adopted before 2006 nor do they prevent decisions from not being implemented until after 2006,' Fischler said.

His proposed reform would stop CAP subsidies being linked directly to production; at present 80% of subsidies go to 20% of the largest farms.

Instead, he proposes encouraging farmers to grow only what the market requires.

Another key issue to be addressed at the conference is food safety, focusing on the work of the Commission's new Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

As an advisory body, it will provide 'risk assessment', while Byrne's DG Sanco continues to deliver a 'risk management' function.

'This is a very important distinction,' said EFSA spokesman Andy Stimpson. The idea is to have 'an integrated scientific resource at European level which is independent and open,' he said.

Geoffrey Podger, who currently heads the London-based Food Standards Agency, has been appointed EFSA chairman and is due to take up his post on 1 February, 2003.

Meanwhile, the Commission this week announced the appointments of Fabrizio Barbaso and Dirk Ahner as deputy directors general in DG Agriculture.

Barbaso, a 53-year-old Italian who joined the Commission industry directorate in 1976, will be responsible for institutional relationships, communication and quality, markets for plants and animal products as well as specialised crops, vineyards and wine products.

Ahner, a 56-year-old German who joined the agriculture directorate in 1978, will be responsible for rural development programmes.

His brief includes the Special Accession Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development, and economic analysis and evaluation.

David Byrne, the Health and Consumer Affairs Commissioner, is set to unveil his plans on regulating misleading 'health claims' at a food policy conference in Brussels on 25 November 2002.