Re-thinking food production: debate on quality and safety kicks off
A high level debate on the quality and safety of food production is underway, launched by the Health and consumer protection Commissioner David Byrne and agriculture, rural development and fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler. Leading food producers, retailers, consumer experts and scientists joined the Commissioners at a round table in Brussels on 5 March for a 'strategic re-think' of food production and food policy in terms of quality, safety and cost. 'The Commissioners emphasised the need for shifts in attitudes of both consumers and producers if initiatives to improve the overall quality of food on offer are to succeed,' reports the Commission. 'The challenge is to find ways to match consumer demands and expectations for good quality food with a corresponding food supply.' The following follow-up actions are proposed: - to extend the debate via similar round tables in the Member States and collect suggestions for common policies; - to organise an EU-wide televised debate and Internet chats on food quality, safety and production issues; - to organise a conference with the European Parliament to consider the role of policy in these areas; - to hold a European stakeholder conference to examine in more detail the issues involved; - to build on existing sectoral quality initiatives in the Member States, involving consumers, producers and retailers; - to encourage further analysis and research in the issues involved; - to review progress within 12 months with a further high level round table.