EU FOOD SAFETY REGULATION: PUTTING CONSUMERS FIRST

Transcription

1 SAFE Annual Conference EU FOOD SAFETY REGULATION: PUTTING CONSUMERS FIRST An overview of current issues and how to increase consumers protection 21st March 2017 Floriana Cimmarusti Secretary General

2 The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything Albert Einstein

3 IDENTITY AND MISSION SAFE is an independent non-profit organization, which strives to protect and advance consumers rights in EU food policy. Its main objectives are: To strengthen consumers voice in the food sector To raise public awareness and train citizens

4 MEMBERS They are currently spread over 8 EU countries and collectively represent over 1,000,000 European citizens. They include: National consumer organizations Vegan & vegetarian associations Health organizations Independent research scientists Doctors Nutritionists

5 Concerns ACTIVITIES VEGAN & VEGETARIAN LEGISLATION No clear definitions Several existing labels with different criteria Misleading for consumers SAFE's actions Creation of a European Working Group with SAFE members Outcome Letter sent to the European Commission by 6 MEPs ALDE, EFDD, EPP, Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL and S&D

6 ACTIVITIES ACRYLAMIDE IN FOOD Background In 2015, EFSA declared acrylamide a public health concern No binding legislation Levels found in many EU countries higher than EU benchmarks EC working on a draft regulation, vote probably in June 2017

7 ACTIVITIES ACRYLAMIDE IN FOOD Mains concerns with latest draft Benchmarks too high Mandatory Code of Practice too vague Legal basis should be Regulation 1881/2006 (contaminants) rather than (EC) No 852/2004 (hygiene) Monitoring requirements unclear, should involve more MS

8 Concerns ACTIVITIES GLYPHOSATE CO-FORMULANT POE EFSA declared the toxicity of glyphosate co-formulant POE-tallowamine EU banned products containing glyphosate co-formulant POE-tallowamine (Regulation (EU) 2016/1313, ) The Italian Ministry of Health with a National Decree of November 2016 has granted a further extension of the grace period till May 2017 Art 46.2 Regulation 1107/2009 forbids such tolerance if there is a risk for public health. In other cases, grace period shall be limited and shall not exceed 6 months for the sale and the distribution (EC 1107/2009, art.46)

9 GLYPHOSATE CO-FORMULANT POE SAFE's actions together with Pan Europe and Pan Italy Formal notice to the Italian Ministry of Health raising legal and health concerns Meeting with Ministry of Health Outcome ACTIVITIES Italy committed not to grant any further extension Other 20 MS are involved

10 SUGAR PROJECT SAFE aims to prevent consumers from health risks related to excessive intakes of sugar School trainings (financed by Ministry of Education, Federation Wallonia-Brussels); Increase consumers' awareness (commercials and flyer); Persuade agro-food companies to lower sugar quantities (via sugar label); Improve the Food Information to Consumers (FIC) Regulation regarding sugar information on food packaging; Develop a smartphone application.

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12 Recommended daily intake of free sugar World Health Organization : less than 10% of total energy intake and recommends a further reduction to below 5% WHO Recommendations (max): Men : 50 grams = 12 teaspoons Women : 40 grams = 10 teaspoons Child : 32 grams = 8 teaspoons Actual consumption in Belgium: Adults : 100 grams* = 25 teaspoons Children : 80 grams** = 20 teaspoons *Portail de l agriculture wallonne = 40kg by person each year **IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle-induced health EFfects In Children and infants) study from Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology

13 SUGAR HEALTH RISK OBESITY* 1.3 billion overweight and 600 million obese in the world 13% of the global adult population In Belgium : 56.4% of the adult population are overweight and 22.1% are obese Up to 15% of adolescents (10 19 years) are affected and 20% of children (6 9 years) *World Health Organization figures

14 SUGAR HEALTH RISK TOOTH DECAY Most common health issues in Belgium it affects 50% of children* Tooth extractions are main reason for children's hospital admissions in UK *Fondation pour la Santé Dentaire

15 SUGAR HEALTH RISK TYPE 2 DIABETES In Belgium : people currently diagnosed with diabetes and a further estimated to be undiagnosed* A growth of 70 % in 10 years By 2030, 1 million people will have been diagnosed with diabetes* Causes : Obesity and high-sugar diet** *SPF Santé Publique Belgique **Action on Sugar

16 SUGAR HEALTH RISK SUGAR AND CANCER Indirectly Obesity is associated with increased risks of the following cancer types : Esophagus, Pancreas, Colon and rectum, Breast, Endometrium, Kidney, Thyroid, Gallbladder1 Directly Sugar fuels the growth of cancer cells3 Numerous epidemiological studies worldwide shows that high-sugar diets are associated with increased breast cancer risk4 1National Cancer Institute (US) 2American Diabetes Association 3MD Anderson Cancer Center 4American Association for Cancer Research

17 THAT SUGAR FILM DOCUMENTARY Healthy Australian actor Damon Gameau made a 60-day experiment He ate the equivalent of 40 teaspoons of sugar daily No junk food, only food considered as healthy Low-fat yoghurt, muesli bars, breakfast cereals, juices and smoothies Results include: weight gain, attention troubles, fatty liver, on his way to insulin resistance...

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19 MORNING PROGRAMME

20 AFTERNOON PROGRAMME

21 Thank you for your attention Floriana Cimmarusti SAFE Safe Food Advocacy Europe Mundo B Rue d Edimbourg Ixelles Belgium Floriana.cimmarusti@safefoodadvocacy.eu Tel: