A global perspective on food safety
standards of food safety apply to all products, regardless of
origin. Commissioner for health and consumer protection David Byrne
said that food imports into the EU should be subject to the same
rigorous criteria.
The European Commission has resolved to ensure that the same standards of food safety apply to all products, regardless of origin. Speaking at an informal agricultural council in Taormina this week, European Commissioner for health and consumer protection David Byrne said that food imports into the EU should be subject to the same rigorous criteria.
"Achieving high standards of food safety is a critical component of food security. Nearly 2 million children die annually because of contaminated food and water in developing countries," he said.
"The issues of food safety, food security, and trade in agriculture are not just important technical matters they are also at the roots of conflicts involving science, the future of agriculture and food cultures, solutions to the hunger problems and trade, market shares and competition. In the light of the disappointing outcome at Cancun, we must not lose sight of the urgent need for global improvements."
According to Byrne, the EU must recognise that some developing countries experience difficulties in reaching EU food safety levels. The Union has banned imported food products from less developed countries on a number of occasions on the grounds of food safety.
"Europe is the world's biggest importer and exporter of foodstuffs," he said. "While we have made, and continue to make, significant improvements to our own food safety system, we must not overlook the effect this may have on our trading partners."
The EU first set out its vision of a common policy on food safety in a White Paper published in January 2000. This established the need to regain consumer confidence and put consumer needs first.
"Nearly four years later we are well on course towards completing this ambitious task," said Byrne. "The general food regulation has been in force now for coming up to two years and the European Food Safety Authority is now up and running. Measures on GMOs, animal byproducts, labeling of food and feed, undesirable substances in feed, pesticides, additives and the withdrawal of antibiotics have all been introduced."
Byrne contends that these actions have made a significant contribution towards the Commission's overall aim of ensuring that Europe's food supply is the safest in the world. "Of course, the strict standards we impose on ourselves and on our providers must also apply to exports. Food and feed that do not reach European standards should not be exported to any third country."
Such multilaterialism is at the core of the EU's current approach to food safety. The objective, according to Byrne, is to establish common standards, common approaches and non-discriminatory systems for simplified trade. In addition, the EU has committed itself to working with a number of international bodies in this field.
"I am pleased to say that the Community is now very close to becoming a full member of the Codex Alimentarius after long and difficult negotiations. We are also very active in the other relevant international organisations, such as the OIE and the IPPC.
"In the future we will need to intensify our co-operation and work, with and within these organisations. This should enhance the development of sound international standards, reflecting scientific advice, which can serve as a basis for our own standards. It will also further our relations with third countries."
