Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-12-10-Speech-1-067"
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"en.20011210.4.1-067"2
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"Madam President, the views of the 370 million citizens of the European Union on the food chain in Europe have dramatically changed in recent years. This is partly due to the advent of BSE, foot-and-mouth disease in Europe and the chicken dioxin scandal that took place a couple of years ago. Of course the consumer is always right, but on this occasion the European Union legislators have had to redouble their efforts to improve the safety of the food chain in Europe and to restore consumer confidence in food products within the Union. It has not been an easy task. However, the White Paper mentioned by Mr Bowis that the Commission brought forward outlines a raft of directives and regulations that need to be updated and modernised so as to make the food chain in Europe safer.
I would like to take this opportunity to commend Mr Byrne, the Commissioner for Consumer Protection and Public Health, for his absolute determination to guarantee that European Union consumers have total confidence in all food products that are sold within the Union. That not only means improving safety standards of production within the Union but also tightening up rules and conditions for the importation of food products into the Union. The key element of this White Paper is the setting up of the food authority, as we discussed today.
It is very important that this authority is up and running as soon as possible, no matter where it is located. This European Food Authority can work with the 15 governments of the Union, in an advisory and preventative capacity, to guarantee that food products from farm to table comply with the highest public health standards. We live in an internal market with free movement of goods, persons, services and capital. Food is an internationally tradable product and it is therefore very important that a coordinated and common approach is taken to promoting food safety in Europe.
This is only right and proper in the light of the fact that consumers are criss-crossing the frontiers of the European Union on a daily basis.
I also support the approach taken by Commissioner Byrne in guaranteeing that all interested parties are given due representation with regard to the implementation of the new directives and regulations under the White Paper on food safety. Groups representing the food industry, farm organisations and consumer interests are all actively involved in the implementation of these directives and regulations. Indeed, as a result of the Amsterdam Treaty the European Parliament has the power of codecision with regard to the implementation of the new directives and regulations in the area of consumer protection and public health. We intend to remain vigilant at all times so as to guarantee that confidence in the European food chain is fully restored, sooner rather than later.
I commend the rapporteur, Mr Whitehead, and all involved in producing this excellent report."@en1
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