EFFA to focus on flavours
EFFA was established in the 1960s by national flavour and fragrance trade associations in Europe. Its original name, Bureau de Liaison des Syndicats Européens des Produits Aromatiques, was changed to EFFA in 1991.
However the vote in favour of cleaving the association in two, which took place at the general assembly this week, recognises that the regulatory systems for flavours and fragrances have been departing in different directions.
In particular the new flavour regulation, which was adopted in late 2008 as part of a cluster of regulations on food improvement agents and ingredients, will require approval for new flavourings to be placed on the market.
Heinrich Schaper, president of EFFA and president of Symrise’s flavour and nutrition group in Europe, said: “It makes sense to adopt a separate advocacy approach for both the flavour and fragrance industries. The different challenges both industries are facing justify our actions.”
He added that EFFA’s objectives are based on a three-pillar strategy: scientific and regulatory, growth and sustainability, and stakeholder strategy.
“It is EFFA’s intention to promote and support a consistent Europe-wide strategy for flavour issues within the framework of IOFI’s (International Organization of the Flavor Industry) global perspective.”
The association will retain the acronym EFFA. The new logo will be unveiled in January.
The fragrance branch will now be represented by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA). IFRA communicated the news to the fragrance sector earlier this week.
One of the current challenges faced by the fragrance industry is how to protect intellectual property while answering calls for transparency and the disclosure of ingredients, according to Stephen Weller, IFRA’s director of communications.
Flavour dossiers
In early November the European Food Safety Commission’s (EFSA) panel published its draft guidance on data that would be required for the risk assessment of flavourings under the new regulations, with a view to informing the preparation and submission of applications.
The document has been opened up to consultation and interested parties are invited to make comments until 7 December.
EFFA has not yet publically aired its views on the draft guidance.
EFSA has been conducting a lengthy safety assessment of some 2800 flavourings already on the market in the EU, which is expected to be completed soon.
This article has been changed since it was published on 4 December as EFFA confirmed that it is not changing its acronym to EFA.
