A free trade agreement between the EU and Japan that eliminates tariffs and non-tariff barriers for EU food and drink products would enable European manufacturers better to cater to a high potential market, the CIAA tells policy makers.
Industry federation the CIAA has branded MEP’s desire for mandatory labelling of trans fats on food and beverage products as ‘a step too far’, supporting the council view that trans fats info should be voluntary.
The CIAA has published a new guide for manufacturers, to help them understand issues surrounding the use and labelling of flavourings in light of the 2008 regulation.
Europe’s Council of Ministers has adopted its first reading position on food information; the CIAA calls it a ‘good starting point’, but points out several areas on which it is lobbying for more industry-favourable positions in the next round.
The CIAA is confident that the incoming Hungarian presidency of the EU will finalise the long-awaited amended novel foods regulation in the next six months, but points out a number of outstanding issues.
The majority of food and beverage companies in the EU that can reformulate products to make them healthier have already done so, or are considering it, claims the CIAA.
The EU food and drink industry is keen for a deal in Copenhagen next month as ongoing uncertainty over climate change policy would undermine its ability to invest profitably and innovate, says the CIAA.
Plans to help the smoothing the European food supply chain function more efficiently do not go far enough in addressing unfair practices, says the CIAA, and initiatives should be fully integrated with other efforts to boost competitiveness.
The CIAA has invited the Swedish presidency to take part in the recently launched Round Table on Sustainable Production and Consumption (SPC); while Sweden has made food and the climate one of its priorities for agriculture over the next six months.
The CIAA has responded to criticisms levelled at its GDA nutrition labelling system by a campaign from Denmark, emphasising points including the tool’s neutral, science basis, and work towards setting portion sizes.
The rules that govern agreements between retailers and suppliers could be strengthened under a new proposal by the UK’s Competition Commission (CC) to protect manufacturers and others from restrictive practices.
The switch to private label over branded food is gathering pace in the recession, according to an index compiled by a UK newspaper, which may tighten the squeeze on branded goods manufacturers.
The European food industry is in discussions over establishing a roundtable on sustainable production and consumption throughout the food chain, and is inviting input from the Czech presidency.
The rapporteur’s report on the food information proposal has elicited a positive initial reaction from industry, but some sticking points still remain.
The need for new European legislation on nutrition labelling has
been called into question by the CIAA (Confederation of Food and
Drink Industries in Europe), as a survey indicates that uptake of
its voluntary scheme has been significant.
The CIAA has highlighted several important areas of debate and
strategic consideration for food manufacturers, which it is
planning to address at its annual conference in November.
The CIAA has included asparaginase in the new version of its
Acrylamide Toolbox, a move seen to validation the efforts of
companies that have developed commercial solutions using the
acrylamide-reducing enzyme.
The CIAA has launched a new online tool to assist food and drink
producers make sence of guidance daily amounts (GDAs), following
the introduction of a common nutrition labelling scheme for the EU
industry last summer.
The Confederation of Food and Drink Industries of the EU (CIAA) has
outlined its strategy in lobbying EU legislators in the upcoming
year on environmental policies and international trade issues.
The EU's food industry association has issued an updated version of
its guide on successfulmethods processors can use to reduce
acrylamide formation during the manufacturing process.
The EU's food sector has called on the European Commission to draw
back from proposals for additional labelling requirements and allow
the industry to regulate the information it provides to consumers.
The CIAA has called on the EU to maintain pressure on negotiating
partners in order to ensure a balanced and successful outcome to
the current round of WTO talks.
Following concerns that food and drink R&D investment across
Europe has hit a low ebb, Irish meat manufacturer Dawn Farm Foods
has pledged to spend 28m on research.
A plan to increase biofuel production could lead to an increase in
prices for agricultural ingredients, in particular rapeseed, the
bloc's food industry association warns in a position paper.
Various quality assurance schemes used in the food industry should
remain voluntary, the bloc's food industry association says in
attempting to forestall planned EU legislation on the subject.
The EU's food industry yesterday called on political leaders to get
behind a proposed economic growth programme for the bloc,
especially in relation research, small and medium-sized businesses,
energy policy and social reform.
The CIAA has urged the new EU presidency to push ahead with the
liberalisation of the global food trade in order to open new
markets and tackle the slowdown in productivity growth.
The draft WTO Hong Kong ministerial declaration is considerably
less ambitious than the stated original objectives of the meeting,
according to the European food industry.
In issuing a set of successful procedures on reducing acrylamide
formation during manufacturing processes, the EU's food industry
association is attempting to help its smaller members get on the
right side of public opinion.
With 10 new Member States set to join the European Union on 1 May,
2004 is likely to be an extremely challenging year for the bloc's
food and drink producers, to say the least.
Flying the flag for market liberalisation Europe's food and drink
industry body has reinforced its support for a revival of WTO
negotiations. But the group also lays down conditions.
The EU food and drink industry proved highly resilient in 2002,
increasing overall volume sales by 1.8 per cent at a time when the
bloc's industrial output as a whole declined.
In the wake of terrorist attacks in the US on September 11, 2001
Europe's manufacturing industries have taken a knock but figures
released this week reveal that the food industry is managing the
course, registering a 'light...
The European food and drink industry - the second largest world
exporter of processed foodstuffs - made calls for a fairer playing
field for members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at a
conference held in Brussels last week.
With a production value of over €600 billion, the responsibility of
up to 3 million employees, and the main user of Community
agricultural produce, the European food and drink industries this
week encouraged ministers to back CAP...
The CIAA, otherwise known as the voice of the European food and
drink industry, this week clearly expressed its support for
legislative proposals that would reform the Common Agricultural
Policy (CAP).
Greece, which has taken over the presidency of the EU, has been
urged to take action on a number of major issues affecting the
European food industry during its time at the helm. The future of
the CAP, GM labelling and EU enlargement...
As Greece picks up the reins to the presidency of the European
Union, the European Confederation of the Food and Drink industries
has used the opportunity to highlight a number of key issues that
are set to have an impact on European...
The European food and drink industry this week gave a vote of
confidence to the radical revamp of the 41 year old Common
Agricultural Policy proposed by European Agriculture Commissioner
Franz Fischler - but gave a clear warning about...
The Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the EU
(CIAA), together with the Danish Food and Drink Federation, this
week submitted to the Danish authorities a memorandum summarising
the industry position on the Presidency...
The Confederation of the food and drink industries of the EU (CIAA)
has given the thumbs up to a radical mid-term review of the Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP) as outlined by European Agriculture
Commissioner Franz Fischler this...
As the integration of Central and Eastern European candidate
countries into the European Union draws closer the Confederation of
the Food and Drink Industries of the EU (CIAA) this week welcomed
the Slovakian food and drink federation...
The EU Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries (CIAA)
recently reminded the new EU Spanish Presidency of the important
issues that it must tackle during the six month presidency.
