The European Food Safety Authority The Industry view Ciaran Fitzgerald Food Industry Ireland, IBEC

. 4 Industry welcomes the setting up of EFSA.In particular we welcome it’s role in providing scientifically based risk assessment and reassurance to Consumers.It is clear that our ability to recover from the Episodes of the 90’s is underpinned by the existence of EFSA.The key to future success is to match up regulation and reassurance with competitiveness and innovation capability

EFSA Context 4 Consumers 4 Producers 4 Processors 4 Politics 4 History

European Food and Drink Industry 4 Largest Manufacturing sector in EU 4 Turnover Euro 626bn 4 13% of total Manufacturing 4 3.6million employees 4 Exports:46.2bn 4 Imports:38.7bn % on average of household Expenditure

Food And Drink Industry 4 Industry buys 70 % of EU AG Produce 4 Underpins incomes of 3m farmers million consumers in the enlarged EU 4 Ireland -9% of GNP 4 25% of Manufacturing employment 4 15% of Net Exports

Competitiveness-Industry context 4 Manufacturing costs increasing 4 Retail concentration 4 Consumer Demand-Multifaceted 4 WTO pressures 4 CAP reform 4 Compliance costs increasing 4 Innovation -Lisbon?

EFSA 4 Consumer protection 4 Food scares in the 90’s 4 Need for harmonisation of controls 4 Science based risk assessment 4 Nutrition and Health 4 Enforcement ?-member states

Consumer context 4 Safe Food 4 Cheap Food 4 Convenient Food 4 Healthy Food 4 Authentic food 4 Indulgent Food

Questions 4 Regulation is a scarce resource 4 How much and where? 4 From the farm to the fork? 4 Is safe enough? 4 Choice and indulgence 4 Diet and health 4 How far do we go?

Questions 4 Harmonisation 4 Single market 4 Enforcement of standards 4 Labelling-country of origin 4 Science v Politics

Questions 4 Regulation and cost recovery 4 Regulatory impact 4 Safe but uncompetitive 4 Regulation and trade 4 Regulation and innovation

EFSA’S Role 4 Not charged with promoting trade -but … 4 Not charged with innovation but … 4 Not charged with improving competitiveness but must not…. 4 Regulation-scarce resource-light touch.