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Interest representation in the EU Case Study: Food Information to Consumers

Interest representation in the EU Case Study: Food Information to Consumers. Dirk JACOBS Manager Consumer Information, Diet and Health. Agenda. Brief Introduction to the EU Policy and Decision-Making Process. The Main Actors. European Commission. Council of Ministers. European Parliament.

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Interest representation in the EU Case Study: Food Information to Consumers

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  1. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo Interest representation in the EUCase Study: Food Information to Consumers Dirk JACOBS Manager Consumer Information, Diet and Health

  2. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo Agenda

  3. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo Brief Introduction to the EU Policy and Decision-Making Process

  4. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo The Main Actors European Commission Council of Ministers European Parliament

  5. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo Fundaments of EU Law Primary legislation (i.e. Treaties) Secondary legislation (i.e. Regulations, Directives, Decisions)

  6. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo The ‘Ordinary Legislative Procedure’

  7. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo Interest Representation in the EU A General Overview

  8. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo The EU InterestRepresentationLandscape • Approximately: • 1500 EU civil society interest groups • 200 national groups with Brussels offices • 350 large firms • 150 public affairs consultancies • 115 law firms • 200 offices of regions in Brussels • Many informal networks • 150 missions from non-EU Member States *Source: Prof. J. Greenwood, Interest Representation in the EU, 2002/2011 (adapted)

  9. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo Different Types of EU InterestRepresentation • Business interest • Cross-sector (e.g. BUSINESSEUROPE) • Sectoral (e.g. FoodDrinkEurope) • Specialist/Issue Citizen/consumer interest E.g. European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) • Unions/Professions • E.g. Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME) • Public sector interest • E.g. regional and local governments *Source: Prof. J. Greenwood, Interest Representation in the EU, 2002/2011 (adapted)

  10. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo Targets of EU Interest Representation

  11. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo The EU Policy and Decision-Making System • Multi-level governance system • Various checks and balances during the decision-making process insulates anyone from pressure • Strong focus on the European public interest • Procedures for consultation and policy-making are designed to create a ‘level playing field’ *Source: Prof. J. Greenwood, Interest Representation in the EU, 2002/2011 (adapted)

  12. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo WhyInterestRepresentation in the EU? *Source: Prof. J. Greenwood, Interest Representation in the EU, 2002/2011 (adapted)

  13. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo Case Study: Regulation on the Provision of Food Information to Consumers

  14. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo How it started… • The general food labelling legislation has been in force since 1978, while the existing nutrition labelling rules were adopted in 1990. • Since then, the number of products has increased considerably and the way marketing is done has evolved, as have consumer demands. • Labels have become more and more complex over the years and consumers are flooded with information. *Source: European Commission, DG Sanco

  15. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo How it started… • In 2003, DG SANCO in close co-operation with stakeholders, launched an evaluation of the food labelling legislation • reassess its effectiveness and legal basis • identify the needs and expectations of today's consumers for food information, taking into account the technical and logistical constraints • The conclusions of the evaluation, published in 2004, identified the focus for a future proposal: a system that allows consumers, on one hand, to access easily the important information on food labels, and businesses, on the other, to keep being innovative. *Source: European Commission, DG Sanco

  16. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo Therefore… January 2008: European Commission (EC) proposal to simplify and harmonise EU horizontal food labelling legislation by combining 2 major Directives into 1 Framework Regulation Regulation is binding and directly applicable in every EU Member State

  17. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo The European Commission proposed: General labelling Rules for the labelling of foods as a tool for the free circulation of foods in the EU Nutrition labelling European Commission White Paper on a Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity related health issues • Nutrition Labelling: mandatory labelling of energy, fat, saturates, carbohydrates with specific reference to sugars, and salt on the front-of-pack (FOP). GDAs are possible. • Legibility:minimum font size 3mm • Country of Origin Labelling: mainly following existing EU legislation (except primary ingredient labelling) • National Schemes: national schemes related to nutrition labelling are possible This formed the basis of subsequent discussion for the EP and the Council

  18. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo Next step: First Reading • EP: First Reading (16 June 2010) • Nutrition labelling: 5 nutrients FOP, 10 nutrients BOP • Traffic lights rejected; instead mandatory GDAs • Extension of mandatory origin labelling to various categories • National schemes deleted • Legibility: no minimum font size • Council: First Reading (21 February 2011) • Nutrition labelling: 7 mandatory nutrients in same field of vision • Voluntary GDAs • Extension of mandatory COOL to meat; impact assessment for other categories • National schemes deleted, but additional forms of expression/ presentation • Legibility: minimum font size No agreement in first reading  proposal to second reading

  19. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo Next step: Second Reading (agreement) Informal Trilogue discussions (EP, Council and EC) Adoption of the second reading text by the EP (6 July 2011) Adoption of the second reading text by the Council (29 September 2011) • Regulation expected to be published in EU Official Journal in October/November • Regulation will enter into force 20 days after publication • 3 year general transition period (October/November 2014) for the rules to apply

  20. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo Transition period

  21. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo Outcome • EU Regulation on the provision of • food information to consumers • In a nutshell: • Nutrition labelling:7 mandatory nutrients BOP, 1 or 5 may be repeated voluntarily FOP • Voluntary GDAs • Mandatory origin labelling: impact assessment for various categories • National schemes tolerated, subject to certain conditions • Legibility: minimum font size of 1.2mm (0.9mm for small packs)

  22. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo A Regulation far fromfinished… Pressure on EU Institutions Package deals were made BUT Some important decisionswerepostponed to a later stage E.g. labelling of TransfattyAcids (TFA): EC Report

  23. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo A Regulation far fromfinished… Implementingmeasures to bedrafted by the European Commission over the upcomingyears EC report on additional forms of expression/ presentation Impact assessment reports on origin labelling Detailedrules on legibility (othercriteria) Rules on portions for specificfoodcategories

  24. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo New requirements: industry anticipationSomeexamples

  25. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo Impact of new requirements on costsSomeexamples: Costs on management systems Management systems Adaptation of packaging material in size or type as result of new additional information Companyresponsability to update information on allergens, nutrient content, etc. to distance sellers via online databases Additionaltechnicalcosts To ensurethatdeclared values of nutrients in the mandatory nutrition declaration are correct and up to date

  26. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo Food Information to Consumers: impact on competitiveness and innovation New requirements also applicable to Kosovar companies exporting to the EU!!

  27. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo Food Information to Consumers: impact on competitiveness and innovation A Regulation far from finished Trilogue compromises Various implementing measures Uncertainty for companies

  28. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo The follow-up: FoodDrinkEurope approach Joint industry interpretation Preparation of implementing measures

  29. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo FoodDrinkEurope Membership • EU level sector associations (25) • E.g.: Breakfast cereals (CEEREAL), Dairy products (EDA), Chocolate, Biscuits and Confectionary (CAOBISCO),Spirit drinks (CEPS), Snacks (ESA), Soft drinks (UNESDA),… National federations (26, including 3 observers) E.g.: FDF (UK), ANIA (FR), BLL (DE), FNLI (NL), Federalimentare (IT), PFFI (PL), FIAB (SP) etc. Observers: Croatia (TUP), Norway (NHO), Turkey (TGDF) Large companies (18) E.g.: Barilla, Coca Cola, Cargill, Danone, Ferrero, Heineken, Kraft, Mars, PepsiCo, Unilever, Heineken, Nestlé

  30. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo FoodDrinkEurope structure

  31. BOSMIP IV – Kosovo 31 Conclusions • The EU policy and decision-making process is largely based on checks-and-balances, involving many actors with different powers/roles • Civil society is an indispensable part of the EU policy and decision-making process • Policy formulation • Policy implementation • Policy evaluation • Industry interest representation in Brussels provides added value for companies, small and large alike

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