EU Delegation News Release (Translated from Thai)

*Note: According to Mr. Steve Needham, Press & Information Officer in the EU Delegation of the European Commission in Thailand, the proposals and comments from third countries will be collected and compiled by the end of year 2000 for consideration by the European Council in Brussels. Actual implementation will like take a couple more years.

Bangkok, 10 July 2000

EU Officials' Explanation on Measures for Safety of Foods

Mr. Patrick Deboysser, Director of the section on law and biological technology (in the Department of Public Health and Consumer Protection), European Commission, said in the seminar held on July 10 among Thai government officials and representatives from Thailand's food industry that EU's proposal of improving the safety of foods will assure consumers of the safety of foods from Europe and other continents worldwide.

During the seminar, there was a discussion on the European Commission's White Paper, which deals with the safety of foods. The book is a reference consisting of suggestions for EU to improve the safety of exported foods. The suggestions were discussed among related persons including exporters, consumers, national politicians, European Parliament and third countries' governments.

The suggestions in the White Paper can be the most profound and comprehensive since the food safety issue was raised. Contents in the paper respond to EU consumers' decrease in confidence of food safety, caused by food safety crisis in the past years.

This gist of the book is to establish the European Food Authority (EFA), which is an independent organization, with the purpose of developing a system of providing scientific advice, looking over food safety, increasing the speed of cooperation, analytical support, direct contact with consumers. Also, the White Paper contains plans and measures for improving and unifying EU's laws covering from working in the farm to eating on table. More than 80 plans to fill in loop holes in the existing laws are presented in the paper as well. The issues the new laws will address include feed, health and welfare of animals, hygiene, contamination, new food products, additives, seasonings, packaging and radiation.

Mr. Deboysser said that EU's proposal of implementing the White Paper worldwide is likely to be accepted as the book will touch food safety issues all over the world. The cases of mad cow disease and contamination of dioxin proved that the food safety issue is not only restricted to Europe but also the entire world. When improvement of food safety in EU is discussed, it is like the food safety all over the world is concerned as well.

Many wonder if the measures for food safety in the White Book may be considered trade limitations. Mr. Deboysser said that trade limitations do not bring profits to EU as EU itself is the biggest food importer and exporter in the world. "We propose to assure consumers of food safety. At least, food producers either in EU or outside EU must conform to basic food standards. An important feature of the book is scientific advice which is free from any political or economic influence," he said. Moreover, EU has observed the advice of Codex Alimentarius, and organization imposing international food standards and also acknowledged by WTO. According to Codex Alimentarius, risk assessment should be separated from risk administration. The new EFA will be an independent and transparent organization, and will operate on the basis of the best scientific proficiency. Bodies responsible for passing laws in EU can make use of EFA's advice in their decision making.

European Commission expects the plan of passing food safety laws supported by the White Paper to be implementable by September 2000.*

Food product exports from Thailand to EU have reached 7% of the total exports to the countries. Over the last 10 years, Thailand exports to EU has increased to as much as 70%. Thai exporters have supplied food products which comply to EU's food safety standards so far. The latest inspection of chicken farms in Thailand proved no problems.

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