Minutes of meeting held on 30 January 2003

Minutes of Foodaware meetings

CFG 02/03

Foodaware: the Consumers’ Food Group

Minutes of the seventh meeting – held on 30 January 2003 at UK European Parliament, Queen Anne’s Gate, London, SW1

Presentation by Lord Whitty
Veterinary Medicines Directorate – consumer representation
CST Consumer Group meetings
FSA Review of ERICA’s contract to run Foodaware
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Budget
UK Co-ordinator’s Report
EU Update
Aquaculture
Labelling of ingredients of alcoholic drinks
Commission review of labelling legislation
Health claims (CFG 22/02)
Red Tractor scheme
GM Update
Official controls on products of animal origin
Use and development of website/membership
The dates of forthcoming meetings

PRESENT

Members:

Paul Allen - European Food Law Association, UK
Erica Bargman - European Union of Women
John Godfrey - ERICA
Janet Graham - EU Standing Group on Veterinary Matters
Mike Jobson - Trading Standards Institute
Penny McNeill - General Consumer Council for N.I.
Charlotte Mellor - LACORS
Helen Millar - National Consumer Federation
Jenny Morris - Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
Sue Payne - National Consumer Federation
Pamela Pollock - Townswomen’s Guild
Jacquie Salfield - Institute of Consumer Sciences
Barbara Saunders - UK Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals
Margaret Williams - National Federation of Women’s Institutes
Anne Wilson - Meat Hygiene Advisory Committee

Observers:

Gillian Asbury - Consumer Branch, Food Standards Agency
Tara Taubman - ERICA volunteer

Foodaware:

Ann Davison - Manager
Lucy Harris - UK Co-ordinator
Jane Jeffreys - administrator

Apologies:

Judy Brander - National Council of Women
Professor Ruth Chadwick - Advisory Committee on Novel Foods & Processes
Dorothy Craig - Veterinary Residues Committee
Gilli Davies - Committee on Animal Feeding Stuff
Sheila Grahams - Veterinary Products Committee
Harriet Kimbell - Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee
Susan Knox - UKROFS
Jeanette Longfield - Sustain
Emma Marsden - Good Housekeeping Institute
Mike O’Neill - National Consumer Council
Dilwen Phillips - Advisory Committee for Wales
Freida Stack - Veterinary Residues Committee
Stella Walsh - National Consumer Federation
Grace Wedekind - European Centre (ICW)
Alma Williams - EU Standing Group on Sheep Meat

Presentation by Lord Whitty, Minister for Farming and Food, DEFRA

Sue Payne welcomed Lord Whitty, on behalf of Foodaware members, and thanked him for coming to share his views with the group. She invited him to say a few words on what he felt were the most pressing food and agricultural issues facing consumers. This would be followed by questions and answers.

Lord Whitty said that DEFRA covered a wide range of areas of concern to consumers, given society’s legitimate interests in food production. DEFRA was following-up the Curry report on the Future of Farming and Food by developing its strategy on Sustainable Food and Farming. The aim was to tackle the basic problems in the food chain especially those at the beginning (farming) and at the end (environmental impacts).

He spoke about the negative impact of over-production resulting from the Common Agricultural Policy and how detailed and difficult discussion was taking place at the EU and internationally at WTO. There was a need to shift public support for agricultural production to support for the wider rural economy and land management. He noted that there was no co-operative tradition in UK farming (unlike in some other EU countries). Also that the Curry report had identified problems with some aspects of production and marketing which might exacerbate public health problems in relation to diet.

Question and answer session:

What was his opinion of the problem of advertising of foods to children?

Was the government happy with the present proposals on the reform of the CAP in the light of the EU accession programme (e.g. Poland)?
The Minister agreed that enlargement put pressure on the system but that some of the applicants e.g. Hungary were ‘modernisers’ and would vote for change. He said the EU had to reform and the WTO would also influence developments.

What percentage of farmland would be growing energy crops in the next ten years?
The Minister felt there was likely to be a shift towards many more of these and that there was a big potential market for bio-fuels. He gave the example of sugar as being a crop that could be redirected into energy production.

Could the fish farming industry expand further and should it be regulated?
Lord Whitty acknowledged that there were many problems (environmental and disease-related), but he thought that the industry could expand further and support local economies in the process. However, it should be regulated at EU level and existing EU rules should be applied effectively.

Did the Minister see a role for independent inspection to improve overall levels of enforcement concerning food and environmental safety?
He agreed that some resources at the local authority level could usefully be increased and/or redeployed for enforcement purposes. On the other hand, some inspectorates were over-resourced e.g. those that monitored fruit quality. He thought such activities could be paid for by industry.

Could the nutritional quality of food be incorporated into CAP reform?
Lord Whitty replied that this was a major question because it in fact asked whether the overall aims of CAP should be changed. One problem was that the way it was enforced was production related not consumption related. He added that several different EU institutions dealt with consumer issues. However, he would support some recognition of the need to consider nutrition.

Should there be a pesticides levy?
He felt this was not out of the question (the Treasury had it as an option) as part of a strategy to control the use of pesticides and ensure environmental safety.

Ann Davison thanked Lord Whitty for giving his valuable time to come and for showing such good understanding of Foodaware members’ concerns.

FOODAWARE BUSINESS MEETING

1.     Welcome and apologies for absence

Sue Payne welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked people to introduce themselves. She explained that Susan Knox had asked her to chair the meeting as Susan was abroad visiting family in Africa.   It was noted that a number of apologies had been received and these would be added to the minutes. Lucy told participants that Caroline Naett, Foodaware Researcher, had just given birth to a baby boy. Members asked for their congratulations to be forwarded to Caroline.

2.     Minutes of the last meeting

Members were invited to comment on the draft minutes of the last meeting (CFG 24/02). Lucy read out two amendments, from Ann Goodwin of the FSA, concerning Section 5 on Enforcement (page 6). Subject to these amendments, the minutes were agreed and signed as a true record of the meeting.

Lucy noted that there had been a number of action points. These had been implemented or were in the process of being implemented. Details were in the UK and EU updates.

3. Matters arising

3.1 Veterinary Medicines Directorate – consumer representation

Lucy said she had received a note from Dorothy Craig who was concerned about consumer members on VMD advisory committees (VPC and VRC) not being invited to the VMD Annual Liaison Meeting. Dorothy would welcome members’ views on this. Others acknowledged that there was a problem. It was agreed that the FSA Review of Expert Committees and Procedures provided a useful good practice guide in relation to all scientific advisory committees and how they worked, including consumer participation. Janet Graham said she would be attending the VMD Annual Liaison meeting and would report back. It was suggested that a letter should be sent to the VMD raising members’ concerns and that a meeting with Foodaware and VMD Directors would be useful. (NB It has since been decided that the Foodaware Steering Group should discuss this further to agree upon a strategy).

ACTION: The Steering Group to follow-up with VMD.

3.2     CST Consumer Group meetings

Lucy asked if anyone was interested in attending the FSA CST (Chemical Safety and Toxicology) Consumer Group meeting on 6 February. John Godfrey confirmed that he would be attending. A short discussion followed about the role of this group. Gillian Asbury explained that it was a general meeting with consumer groups, organised by Richard Sinclair of the Chemical Safety and Toxicology Division, with the agenda being determined by participants. It was less formal than the Consumer Committee. Lucy said that she would continue to circulate details of these meetings as they came up.

3.3     FSA Review of ERICA’s contract to run Foodaware

Sue mentioned that the FSA had commissioned an independent consultant, Jim Bewsher, to carry out a review of ERICA’s contract to run Foodaware. This was a standard procedure. Jim had expressed an interest in interviewing a selection of members for their views and would be contacting them shortly.

3.4     European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Budget

Lucy said she had received a letter from Deirdre Hutton (consumer member of the EFSA) saying that the EFSA had only been given 50% of its budget by the European Parliament with the rest being held in reserve. This had happened because the Parliament was trying to force the Council to make a decision about the permanent location for the EFSA. The letter requested that Foodaware consider lobbying the Parliament to release the other 50% of the budget and/or to persuade the Council to decide on a location.

It was agreed that a reply should be sent to Deirdre supporting the view that the location of the EFSA should be decided at the earliest opportunity. This could be copied to a selection of UK MEPs.

ACTION: Send reply to Deidre Hutton (Ann Davison/Susan Knox)

4.       UK and EU Update and campaigns

4.1     UK Co-ordinator’s Report

Lucy referred members to her report (UK Co-ordinator’s Report) available in the room and apologised that it had not been ready in time to circulate before the meeting. (NB it has since been circulated on the list-serve). She noted that policy papers on Enforcement, Novel foods and ingredients, Pesticides and Food supplements had been finalised since the last meeting. A lot of promotional work had also taken place in relation to the papers on EU Nutrition policy, the Common Fisheries Policy, Aquaculture (still draft), and Eating Well. The report also included a list of current consultations and meetings at which Foodaware had been represented.

John Godfrey mentioned that he had recently been at a meeting with Mr Holmquist in charge of Fisheries at the Commission and he had specifically welcomed Foodaware’s work in this area. This had also been the view of Commissioner Fischler in a letter sent in response to Foodaware’s paper.

Paul Allen recommended that the content of the Eating Well paper should be checked regularly to ensure it was up-to-date. Lucy said that she had received a comment from FSA concerning the section on food allergies and intolerances. Lucy asked that members forward any new information that they receive of relevance to the paper’s contents.

ACTION: Regularly check the Eating Well paper to ensure it is up-to-date.

4.2     EU Update

Lucy reminded members that Caroline’s report had been circulated by email a few days before the meeting and that hard copies were available in the room if needed. It was agreed that the labelling issues mentioned in the report would be discussed under Agenda item 6 (see below).

It was noted that DEFRA was consulting on CAP Reform following the Commission’s adoption of a package of proposals on 22 January. It was agreed that the Foodaware response, if any, should focus on the implications for food standards, nutrition and safety.

There was a discussion on the state of play concerning the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. John Godfrey confirmed that the Council’s agreed proposals fell a long way short of the scientific advice. There was some flexibility as to how the proposals might be implemented.

Ann Davison added that she and Caroline had contributed to the development of the Economic and Social Committee’s (ESC) Opinion’s on smoke flavourings in foods, the use of the food additive konjac (E-425). Copies were available for members. It was agreed that letters should be sent to the UK government concerning these.

ACTION: Letters concerning smoke flavouring and the additive konjac to be sent to FSA (Ann Davison and Caroline Naett).

5. Aquaculture

Ann Davison and John Godfrey introduced the revised paper for discussion. They mentioned that further changes had been made since the papers had been sent out. The latest version was available in the room.

Discussion focused on members’ concerns about the health and environmental problems associated with intensively farmed fish. Lower intensity of production and much more effective enforcement was needed. An example was mentioned of an experiment in Western Ireland of fish cages being anchored out to sea where there was more water movement and so less need for pesticides etc. It was suggested that this example could usefully be included in the paper. Another problem was the amount of fish material used in fish feed – this had led to over exploitation of fish stocks especially when large numbers of young were caught.

In conclusion, it was agreed that there should be less emphasis on welcoming the development of aquaculture and more on Foodaware’s concerns about: nutrition, the quality of the human diet, health and safety and about the vast unregulated expansion of the sector. There was an urgent need for strict and effective regulation. A recommendation should be added about the need for more research (e.g. the risks associated with farmed versus wild salmon).

It was also noted that the presentation paper needed tidying up, some of the recommendations needed rephrasing and they should be listed at the end of the paper along with a proper conclusion. There was also a need to reference the paper properly.

ACTION: Finalise the paper with these amendments and re-circulate to the Commission and MEPs etc. Press release (aimed at European and Scottish press) to be issued following the meeting.

6. Food labelling issues

6.1 Labelling of ingredients of alcoholic drinks

Lucy introduced this item. She said that the FSA had circulated information on developments. The Commission was currently developing a proposal that should be ready for substantive discussion by member states in the latter part of 2003. However, a draft text already existed. This established the principle that ingredient listing rules for the various alcoholic drink sectors should be decided either under whatever specific Community provisions applied to them or, in the absence of such provisions, by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. The text contained no ingredient listing rules itself. The Commission would be consulting stakeholders in developing the proposal. It was agreed that Foodaware should call for full ingredient listing and raise concern about the issue of contaminants and post-harvest treatments.

ACTION: Prepare letter and send to the Commission and FSA.

6.2 Commission review of labelling legislation (see summary paper)

Lucy referred members to Caroline’s summary paper that had been distributed with the papers. This was intended to give a general picture of what was going on at the European level, including the Commission review of current labelling legislation, for example, whether it still met its objectives and, what amendments might be needed.

Members were invited to give their comments, suggestions and recommendations on the various labelling provisions and how Foodaware should prioritise and prepare responses.

On general labelling, members mentioned the issues of print size and colours and also the problem of ‘may contain’ labelling.

ACTION: Draft response to be prepared (timescale not as urgent as for nutrition labelling and food fortification – see below).

Nutrition labelling: The Commission had just published a request for information on how current legislation was working in practice. The deadline for comment was 7 March. Lucy said she had further details and would circulate these to members along with details of previous Foodaware policy on nutrition labelling.

ACTION: Comments should be prepared, via the list-serve, in time to respond to the consultation.

Addition of nutrients to food (fortification): On 17 January the Commission had circulated a ‘preliminary’ draft proposal inviting comments, which would be discussed during a stakeholder meeting at the end of February. Caroline had recently produced a summary of the issues.

ACTION: Lucy would circulate Caroline’s summary, along with an early Foodaware paper on the issue, to members. Members should send their comments in order for a draft response to be produced in time for the FSA deadline of 26 February.

6.3 Health claims (CFG 22/02)

Lucy explained that this paper had been produced and circulated for the October meeting but discussion had been delayed due to lack of time. Discussion was now timely because the Commission was expected to adopt its formal proposal on claims very soon. Members were invited to comment.

Members agreed that substantiation of claims was central. There was a discussion about whether it was appropriate and realistic for Foodaware to maintain the view that no health claims were acceptable. There was general agreement that the situation had changed and that the best strategy was to take a strong line on the conditions under which claims might be acceptable. These should include the need for substantiation of claims and for products to be assessed as a whole. Paul Allen and John Godfrey agreed to look at the definitions in the proposal. Gillian Asbury mentioned that new FSA research into people’s understanding of claims was on the FSA website.

ACTION: Prepare draft response once the formal Commission proposal is published and circulate for comments. Final version to be sent to the Commission and FSA etc.

6.4 Red Tractor scheme

This issue had been raised by Mike O’Neill of NCC. Unfortunately, he was not able to attend the meeting. NCC was concerned about the proposed, revised Assured Foods Scheme and was planning to hold a meeting to discuss this further with AFS representatives. Lucy added that Foodaware had been invited by the Assured Food Standards group to submit comments by 21 February.

ACTION: It was agreed that Barbara Saunders would attend the NCC meeting for Foodaware. Lucy would circulate further details about the AFS consultation. Foodaware should draft a letter in response. The main issues to highlight were the need for the scheme to include definite consumer representation, an independent chair, and higher than legal standards.

7. GM Update

Ann briefly updated members on the situation. It was noted that a summary was included in Caroline’s EU Update paper. It was agreed that members were, overall, fairly satisfied with the Council compromise. The main outstanding issue was the labelling of food produced from farm animals fed on GM feed.

There was a discussion on the possibility of a voluntary or negative labelling scheme, although it was noted that this would be confusing and had been argued against in relation to other GM foods.

ACTION: It was agreed that this issue needed further consideration and members would consult their own membership again.

8.       Any other business

8.1     Official controls on products of animal origin

Lucy said that this issue was still outstanding. Copies of a summary of the proposal, prepared by Caroline for the October meeting, were available for members to take with them. The proposal was very technical with various annexes setting out detailed control procedures.

Members were asked if they could consider what their views were on controls in general; were current controls and procedures satisfactory; was the Commission approach good? Suggestions for Foodaware action would be welcomed. Caroline had suggested sending a letter to MEPs stating how important Foodaware believed controls were and the need for appropriate resources etc (vote planned in March).

8.2     Use and development of website/membership

There was a suggestion, which was accepted, for meeting agendas and minutes to be placed on the Foodaware website. It was also agreed that more people could be on the list-serve. Members should find out whether any of their members would like to be added. The Steering Committee was asked to consider whether two members from each organisation could be invited to Group meetings as there was room.

Consideration should also be given to developing and improving the website to make it more informative and interactive. It was noted that links with other member organisations were being set up.

Members were reminded that Jane had travel expense forms.

The dates of forthcoming meetings were:

Thursday 10 April
Thursday 24 July
Thursday 30 October