Minutes of meeting held on 18 April 2002

Minutes of Foodaware meetings

CFG 07/02

Foodaware: the Consumers’ Food Group
Minutes of the fourth meeting – held on 18 April 2002
UK European Parliament, Queen Anne’s Gate, London, SW1

Matters arising:
  FSA Meat Hygiene Policy Forum
  FSA research on artificial colours in children's sweets
  NCC Voluntary labelling code of practice: stakeholders meeting
Update on UK, EU and Codex issues including future priorities
Antimicrobial resistance - revised paper for agreement (CFG 01/02 rev.)
EU nutrition policy - revised paper for discussion/agreement ( CFG 02/02 rev.)
Organic farming and food - draft paper for discussion (CFG 03/02 rev.1)
Foodaware member rules - draft paper for agreement (CFG 03/02 rev.1)
Any other business

Present

Members:

Susan Knox - Chair, CEG and UKROFS
Erica Bargman - European Union of Women (EUW)
Judy Brander - National Council of Women (NCW)
John Godfrey - ERICA
Penny McNeill - General Consumer Council Northern Ireland
Helen Millar - National Consumer Federation and Individual
Sue Payne - National Consumer Federation (NCF)
Margaret Williams - National Federation of Women’s Institutes
Anne Wilson - Townswomen’s Guild & Meat Hygiene Committee
Grace Wedekind - European Centre, International Council of Women

Observers:

Mike O'Neill - FSA

Foodaware:

Ann Davison - Manager & EU Economic and Social Committee
Lucy Harris - UK Co-ordinator
Caroline Naett - Researcher
Jane Jeffreys - Administrative support

Apologies:

David Alexander - National Consumer Council (NCC)
Paul Allen - European Food Law Association (EFLA) UK
Gillian Asbury - FSA
Les Bailey - LACOTS
Dorothy Craig - Individual member
Janet Graham - Individual member
Michael Jobson - Trading Standards Institute (TSI)
Jane Marcroft - LACOTS
Jacqui Salfield - Institute of Consumer Sciences
Barbara Saunders - Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals
Jacqui Webster - FSA
Alma Williams - EU Economic and Social Committee

1. Welcome and apologies for absence

Susan Knox (Chair) welcomed everyone to the fourth meeting of Foodaware: the Consumers’ Food Group. It was noted that a number of apologies had been received and would be added to the minutes. It was agreed that the new room layout was an improvement on the previous arrangement.

2. Minutes of the last meeting

There were no amendments to the minutes of the last meeting. They were agreed and signed as a true record of the meeting (CFG 04/02).

Lucy commented on the action points from the last meeting:

Election of Vice Chairs. Paul Allen and Sue Payne were congratulated on their election.
Building of list of European contacts. Caroline Naett had done considerable work on building contacts (see item 4.2 below). She and Lucy were in the process of creating a number of email lists of UK MEPs etc to which policy papers would be sent as appropriate.
Distribution of papers by members. Members had been distributing Foodaware papers through their own networks.
Invite Diane McCrea to the meeting. Lucy had spoken to Diane McCrea about this. Unfortunately, Diane was in Paris at the Codex Committee on General Principles all week and was therefore unable to come. See also item 4.3 below. Her contract with FSA, to co-ordinate consumer responses on a number of Codex issues, was also finishing at this time.
Caroline to prepare a summary of the EU/USA debate on HACCP. It was noted that this had not been a priority because the debate, within the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD), was no longer active. Also, Foodaware was not a member of TACD at present although this could be considered for the future. Foodaware views on HACCP had been sent to FSA in response to the recent consultation on the application of HACCP in licensed meat plants.

John Godfrey to revise nutrition paper.

3. Matters arising

3.1 FSA Meat Hygiene Policy Forum

Judy Brander had attended the launch meeting of this group on 16 April and she gave a verbal report to members. The aim of the meeting had been to agree a remit and terms of reference for the policy forum. A proposed work programme had also been discussed which included the following issues:

Modernisation of meat hygiene controls
BSE and sheep
Meat Hygiene Service performance targets (how they should be set once HACCP in place)
Research priorities
BSE and TSE testing in licensed abattoirs
Review of the OTM rule

Judy said only two or three consumer representatives had been there while the meat industry was well represented. The next meeting was due to take place in November and there was also likely to be a stakeholders meeting on BSE in the meantime. It was agreed that that Foodaware should continue to be involved in this initiative.

ACTION: Ensure that Foodaware is represented within this Policy Forum

3.2 FSA research on artificial colours in children’s sweets

Lucy said that Foodaware had been invited to attend a meeting at FSA the previous day at which the results of an FSA survey of colours used in sweets were being published. Unfortunately, no one had been able to attend (Foodaware had only been given a couple of day’s notice). NB the Information Sheet with the results is now on the FSA website: http://www.food.gov.uk/science/surveillance/

3.3 NCC Voluntary labelling code of practice: stakeholders meeting

Lucy informed members about an NCC Voluntary Labelling Code of Practice: stakeholders consultation meeting that was taking place on Monday 22 April. Members showed interest in this project and John Godfrey offered to attend on behalf of Foodaware.

ACTION: John Godfrey to attend NCC meeting

4. Update on UK, EU and Codex issues including future priorities

4.1 UK Update

Lucy introduced her report (UK Co-ordinator’s Report). She highlighted the fact that, over the last three months, much follow-up work had been taking place in the form of dissemination of Foodaware policy papers and associated lobbying work (see 4.2 below). Three responses to consultations had also been prepared:

The Codex intergovernmental task force on animal feeding (mainly concerning GM feed and labelling).
The application of HACCP principles in licensed fresh meat and poultry meat plants and laying down certain microbiological procedures.
Advice on country of origin labelling.

These had been agreed as priorities at the last meeting.

The report also included examples of meetings at which members had represented Foodaware. John Godfrey gave a short report on the Veterinary Public Health Association annual meeting at which he gave a presentation. Issues that had come up had included the problem of the illegal use of antibiotics particularly with imported meat. He had also been interested in a debate on the traceability of meat and the theoretical possibility of using DNA molecules to track meat through the food chain.

Judy Brander said that she and Helen Millar would be attending the forthcoming FSA meeting on the minimization of the use of pesticides.

Lucy reminded members to tell her of any meetings where they had represented Foodaware in the last three months so that this could be included in the information sent to FSA each quarter. It was agreed that, where members were attending a meeting on behalf of their organisation, it would be helpful if they could also represent Foodaware. This would contribute to a better visibility of Foodaware.

It was also noted that all completed policy papers were now on the Foodaware website. It was suggested that minutes of meetings should also be posted although it was noted that minutes were draft until approved at each following meeting. It was agreed that the website address (www.foodaware.org.uk) should be included on the headed paper.

ACTION: Members to send details of any meetings at which they had represented Foodaware (February - April) to Lucy ASAP. Where possible, members should represent Foodaware, as well as their own organisations, when attending meetings.

ACTION: Foodaware website details to be added to headed paper as soon as feasible.

4.2   EU Update

details of which were in her accompanying paper (EU Update). She highlighted the interest Ms Klass, EP rapporteur on the labelling of food allergens, had taken in Foodaware comments. Caroline had also met the rapporteur on zoonoses (Ms Paulsen) who had been very interested in the Foodaware paper. Ms Paulsen’s report responded to several of the Foodaware recommendations and in some cases went further. As a follow-up to this, Lucy and Caroline had sent the Foodaware paper to all British MEPs before the ENVI committee vote on 17 April.

Caroline also mentioned that discussions on GM labelling were continuing. Ann Davison had successfully presented a series of comments and changes to the draft Economic and Social Committee opinion.

She suggested that Foodaware might want to carry out further lobbying on the issues of zoonoses, allergens labelling, gm labelling and food hygiene before the May plenary session of the EP.

4.3   Update on Codex

Lucy said that FSA had held a meeting of the Codex Consumer Group on 13 March. She had a copy of the minutes if anyone was interested. The main points emerging from the meeting were that FSA was intending to produce a Codex newsletter; a workshop on Codex was being planned, and a tender for a further contract to co-ordinate consumer responses to Codex consultations would be published in the autumn. This contract would be similar to the one with Diane McCrea just coming to an end.

It was agreed that Diane McCrea should be invited to attend the next Foodaware meeting to discuss practical ways for Foodaware to work on Codex issues. It was suggested that a list of questions could be prepared to put to Diane. This would be useful preparation before the autumn round of Codex consultations.

ACTION: Invite Diane McCrea to next meeting.

4.4   Future priorities

Members discussed the list of current consultations with a view to indicating priorities for future work. It was agreed that priority should be given to:

DEFRA consultation ‘Sustainable Food and Farming’. A response should be prepared based on Foodaware comments to the FSA on the Policy Commission on Farming and Food.
Fish labelling. There was a need to draw attention to a number of wider issues associated with fish farming practices including maintaining sustainable stocks, hygiene, endocrine disruption, feeding practices and contaminants. It was also noted that the Commission was due to produce a document on the future of the Common Fisheries Policy.
Meat hygiene issues where appropriate.
Responses to other consultations (e.g. labelling) where feasible.

5. Antimicrobial resistance – revised paper for agreement (CFG 01/02 rev.)

Caroline said that some amendments had been made to the paper since the last meeting, particularly in response to the Commission announcement of their intention to ban all remaining antibiotics used as growth promoters. A discussion took place on the problem of the illegal (and unreported) use of antibiotics and also their increased usage for therapeutic purposes.

It was agreed that a revised (and final) version would be circulated on the list serve. This would need to be completed in time to submit to FSA by the 15 May consultation deadline.

ACTION: Caroline to revise paper and circulate final version on the list serve.

6. EU nutrition policy – revised paper for discussion/agreement ( CFG 02/02 rev.)

Caroline and John presented this revised paper. Caroline explained that the new format would be useful as the paper could be used to input to debates at both the EU and UK levels. The main aim should be to insist on a comprehensive approach. In its White Paper on Food Safety, the Commission had announced the preparation of an action plan on nutrition as well as the elaboration of European dietary guidelines. No action has taken place and now only a Status report is expected in June 2002. This is particularly noticeable, as nearly all actions listed in the White Paper have been completed, or are underway, except the ones concerning nutrition.

Members then gave detailed comments on the paper and especially the recommendations. It was suggested that the paper could be used as a benchmark against which national initiatives could be assessed. It was agreed that the recommendations should be highlighted more clearly and listed at the beginning of the paper. It was also suggested that a covering letter, sent with the paper to MEPs, should state that Foodaware regretted the fact that no final decision had yet been made on the location of the European Food Safety Authority.

It was agreed that a revised text would be circulated on the list serve for a further round of comments with a view to finalising it thereafter.

ACTION: Caroline and John to revise text, circulate it on the list serve for comments, and then finalise it ASAP.

7. Organic farming and food – draft paper for discussion (CFG 03/02 rev.1)

Lucy introduced the paper reminding members that the recommendations were based on a past CEG paper. These had been circulated on the list serve in February and comments received had been integrated. The text of the paper had been added but was still very much draft. In particular, she thought it was important for Foodaware to make some comment on the DEFRA review of the future of UKROFS. She said the FSA position was to support the replacement of the approval and monitoring role of UKROFS with a contracted out system with a private (independent) company (most likely the United Kingdom Accreditation Service – UKAS).

Members said that they were happy with the recommendations in the paper. Some additional wording concerning CAP subsidies was suggested. Members also agreed there should be more emphasis on problems with the new generation of pesticides and other chemicals used in intensive production, e.g. increased levels used and possible cocktail effects. Members did not see a need for the current certification and control system under UKROFS to be changed and felt this view should be forwarded to FSA.

ACTION: Lucy to revise paper, including comments on UKROFS, and send to FSA (as a draft).

Judy Brander reported that she had attended a meeting of the organisation, LEAF, which supported farmers using an Integrated Crop Management approach. She felt it was a good initiative and it would be useful for Foodaware to keep in touch with them. NB LEAF had previously approached Foodaware concerning their interest in having a consumer representative on their Board.

8. Foodaware member rules – draft paper for agreement (CFG 03/02 rev.1)

The member rules paper, which had been revised since the last meeting, was agreed overall.

A number of points were made during the discussion:

Members should send a copy of their constitution and annual report to be kept centrally (location to be decided but most likely by Jane or Ann)
A list of members (plus a few details about each) should be put on the website. Ann said that Jane was already preparing a list, to be circulated to members to check, before the information was added to the website
It was agreed that representatives on government food committees should be invited the meetings as appropriate
It was agreed that appropriate ethnic minority and poverty groups should be invited to become members
Members asked if there could be a Foodaware newsletter. Ann explained that this was something being considered but extra funding would be needed. A grant application had been made for Foodaware’s public understanding of science work but, unfortunately, this had not been successful.

9. Any other business

A number of practical issues were raised:

It was agreed that a reply slip should be included in meeting invitations so members could confirm their attendance or give apologies. This should help with planning and catering arrangements for meetings.
It was agreed that meeting papers should be mailed 10 days before each meeting. Any papers not ready in time for this would be circulated by email. A note of the meeting should be sent to members as soon as possible after the meeting (NB within 3 weeks is realistic as this is when the minutes need to be sent to FSA). It was also suggested that the minutes should be posted on the website.

Members were invited to take travel expense forms (from Jane Jeffreys).

The date of the next meeting would be Thursday 4 July (brought forward from 11 July). Meetings would normally start at 12.30pm preceded by lunch from 12 noon. Exceptions to this would be if a speaker were invited in which case the start would be at 11 am.

The meeting closed at 4.30pm