challenges already encountered by eu large diverse cultural grouping consumer safety does not...
TRANSCRIPT
Challenges already encountered by EU
Large diverse cultural grouping
Consumer safety does not impede creativity
Treaty of Rome 1957
No consumer protection or public health aspect
Article 3 – elimination of barriers to trade
Early EU Food Law - market integration, then:
BSE crisis in early 1990’s.
Belgian dioxin scare in 2000.
Spanish pomace oil recall in 2001
Shortcoming became clear in July 2002:
European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed
Similar issues faced by Chinese Authorities
Increasing middle class consumer market
EU Regulation 178/2002
Right of consumers to safe food
Accurate and honest information
Regulation based on risk analysis
Establishes “the Precautionary Principle”
Imposes rules to ensure traceability
Responsibility for compliance on business
Fit for consumption and not injurious to health
Estd: Rapid Alert System for Food & Feed (RASFF)
Large scale food production or
Niche “high value-added” luxury food products
Ireland best suited to the latter
Can also export know-how and experience
EU food law ever expanding
Moving from food safety to nutritional quality
Innovation and design of compliant food products
Ireland is a world leader
Risk Management: The Fastest Cars have the Best Brakes.
