CIAA gives Govt food for thought

EUROPE’S representative food body, the CIAA, said yesterday competitiveness and food labelling were major issues to be addressed during Ireland’s six-month presidency of the EU.

Jean Martin, president of the CIAA, warned if the EU pursued its current labelling policy it would seriously damage the food industry.

Mr Martin said under current proposals, foods with proven cholesterol-reducing qualities could be disallowed on labels, because salt and fat content might be outside proposed EU guidelines.

If the labelling policy under consideration goes through then Mr Martin said, “it will set back scientific research by food companies across Europe”, with serious consequences for research into more nutritious, life-enhancing foods.

The CIAA was in Dublin yesterday for talks with government bodies and Health Minister Micheál Martin.

The CIAA (Confederation of the Food and Drink Industry) has called for the introduction of a “harmonised, transparent and predictable framework for nutrition and health claims and for fortified foods, ensuring a high level of consumer protection and providing food and drink companies with the necessary flexibility to continue to invest in research”.

The president said the EU food industry is the biggest manufacturing sector in the EU, accounting for €45 billion in exports; 3 million jobs and 26,000 companies, the vast majority of which are small to medium sized.

Labelling and competitive issues strike at the heart of the food sector. But he accepted food safety was non negotiable.