interest representation in the eu case study: food information to consumers
DESCRIPTION
Interest representation in the EU Case Study: Food Information to Consumers. Dirk JACOBS Manager Consumer Information, Diet and Health. Agenda. Brief Introduction to the EU Policy and Decision-Making Process. The Main Actors. European Commission. Council of Ministers. European Parliament. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Interest representation in the EUCase Study: Food Information to Consumers
Dirk JACOBSManager Consumer Information, Diet and Health
06/10/2011
BOSMIP IV – Kosovo
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AgendaAgenda
1Brief Introduction to the EU Policy and Decision-Making Process
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The Main ActorsThe Main Actors
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European Commission
European Parliament Council of Ministers
Fundaments of EU LawFundaments of EU Law
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The ‘Ordinary Legislative Procedure’The ‘Ordinary Legislative Procedure’
2Interest Representation in the EU
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A General Overview
The EU Interest Representation LandscapeThe EU Interest Representation Landscape
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Approximately:
•1500 EU civil society interest groups•200 national groups with Brussels offices •350 large firms •150 public affairs consultancies•115 law firms•200 offices of regions in Brussels•Many informal networks•150 missions from non-EU Member States
*Source: Prof. J. Greenwood, Interest Representation in the EU, 2002/2011 (adapted)
Different Types of EU Interest RepresentationDifferent Types of EU Interest Representation
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Business interest- Cross-sector (e.g. BUSINESSEUROPE)- Sectoral (e.g. FoodDrinkEurope)- Specialist/Issue
Citizen/consumer interestE.g. European Consumer Organisation (BEUC)
Unions/ProfessionsE.g. Standing Committee of European Doctors
(CPME)
Public sector interestE.g. regional and local governments
*Source: Prof. J. Greenwood, Interest Representation in the EU, 2002/2011 (adapted)
Targets of EU Interest RepresentationTargets of EU Interest Representation
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The EU Policy and Decision-Making SystemThe EU Policy and Decision-Making System
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• Multi-level governance system• Various checks and balances during the decision-
making process insulates anyone from pressure
• Strong focus on the European public interest
• Procedures for consultation and policy-making are designed to create a ‘level playing field’
*Source: Prof. J. Greenwood, Interest Representation in the EU, 2002/2011 (adapted)
Why Interest Representation in the EU?Why Interest Representation in the EU?
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*Source: Prof. J. Greenwood, Interest Representation in the EU, 2002/2011 (adapted)
3Case Study: Regulation on the Provision of Food Information to Consumers
15/06/2011
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How it started…How it started…
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• The general food labelling legislation has been in force since 1978, while the existing nutrition labelling rules were adopted in 1990.
• Since then, the number of products has increased considerably and the way marketing is done has evolved, as have consumer demands.
• Labels have become more and more complex over the years and consumers are flooded with information.
*Source: European Commission, DG Sanco
How it started…How it started…
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•In 2003, DG SANCO in close co-operation with stakeholders, launched an evaluation of the food labelling legislation
• reassess its effectiveness and legal basis• identify the needs and expectations of today's consumers for food information, taking
into account the technical and logistical constraints
•The conclusions of the evaluation, published in 2004, identified the focus for a future proposal: a system that allows consumers, on one hand, to access easily the important information on food labels, and businesses, on the other, to keep being innovative.
*Source: European Commission, DG Sanco
Therefore…Therefore…
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January 2008: European Commission (EC) proposal to simplify and harmonise EU horizontal food labelling legislation by combining 2 major Directives into 1 Framework Regulation
Regulation is binding and directly applicable in every EU Member State
The European Commission proposed:The European Commission proposed:
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• Nutrition Labelling: mandatory labelling of energy, fat, saturates, carbohydrates with specific reference to sugars, and salt on the front-of-pack (FOP). GDAs are possible.
• Legibility: minimum font size 3mm
• Country of Origin Labelling: mainly following existing EU legislation (except primary ingredient labelling)
• National Schemes: national schemes related to nutrition labelling are possible
This formed the basis of subsequent discussion for the EP and the Council
Next step: First ReadingNext step: First Reading
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EP: First Reading (16 June 2010)
- Nutrition labelling: 5 nutrients FOP, 10 nutrients BOP
- Traffic lights rejected; instead mandatory GDAs
- Extension of mandatory origin labelling to various categories
- National schemes deleted- Legibility: no minimum font size
Council: First Reading (21 February 2011)
- Nutrition labelling: 7 mandatory nutrients in same field of vision
- Voluntary GDAs- Extension of mandatory COOL to
meat; impact assessment for other categories
- National schemes deleted, but additional forms of expression/ presentation
- Legibility: minimum font size
Next step: Second Reading (agreement)Next step: Second Reading (agreement)
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InformalTrilogue discussions (EP, Council and EC)
Adoption of the second reading text by the EP
(6 July 2011)
Adoption of the second reading text by the Council
(29 September 2011)
• Regulation expected to be published in EU Official Journal in October/November• Regulation will enter into force 20 days after publication• 3 year general transition period (October/November 2014) for the rules to apply
Transition periodTransition period
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OutcomeOutcome
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A Regulation far from finished…A Regulation far from finished…
Pressure on EU Institutions
Pressure on EU Institutions
Package deals were made
Package deals were made
BUTBUT
Some important decisions were postponed to a later stage
Some important decisions were postponed to a later stage
E.g. labelling of Transfatty Acids (TFA): EC Report
E.g. labelling of Transfatty Acids (TFA): EC Report
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A Regulation far from finished…A Regulation far from finished…
Implementing measures to be drafted by the European Commission over the upcoming years
Implementing measures to be drafted by the European Commission over the upcoming years
EC report onadditional forms of
expression/presentation
EC report onadditional forms of
expression/presentation
Impact assessment reports on origin
labelling
Impact assessment reports on origin
labelling
Detailed rules on legibility
(other criteria)
Detailed rules on legibility
(other criteria)
Rules on portions for specific food
categories
Rules on portions for specific food
categories
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New requirements: industry anticipationSome examples
New requirements: industry anticipationSome examples
Impact of new requirements on costs Some examples:
Impact of new requirements on costs Some examples:
Management systems
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Adaptation of packaging material in size or type as result of new additional
information
Adaptation of packaging material in size or type as result of new additional
information
Company responsability to update information on allergens, nutrient
content, etc. to distance sellers via online databases
Company responsability to update information on allergens, nutrient
content, etc. to distance sellers via online databases
Costs on management systemsCosts on management systems
Additional technical costsAdditional technical costs
To ensure that declared values of nutrients in the mandatory nutrition declaration are correct and up to date
To ensure that declared values of nutrients in the mandatory nutrition declaration are correct and up to date
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Food Information to Consumers: impact on competitiveness and innovation
Food Information to Consumers: impact on competitiveness and innovation
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New requirements also applicable to Kosovar companies exporting to the EU!!
New requirements also applicable to Kosovar companies exporting to the EU!!
Food Information to Consumers: impact on competitiveness and innovation
Food Information to Consumers: impact on competitiveness and innovation
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Trilogue compromises
A Regulation far from finishedA Regulation far from finished
Uncertainty for companies
Uncertainty for companies
Various implementing
measures
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The follow-up: FoodDrinkEurope approachThe follow-up: FoodDrinkEurope approach
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FoodDrinkEurope MembershipFoodDrinkEurope Membership
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FoodDrinkEurope structureFoodDrinkEurope structure
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15/06/2011
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ConclusionsConclusions
• The EU policy and decision-making process is largely based on checks-and-balances, involving many actors with different powers/roles
• Civil society is an indispensable part of the EU policy and decision-making process
• Policy formulation• Policy implementation• Policy evaluation
• Industry interest representation in Brussels provides added value for companies, small and large alike