Food
Small enterprises play a key role in this sector as around 80% of Europe’s food products are produced in SMEs. The UEAPME Food Forum actively monitors the developments in the EU food legislation so as to ensure that the regulations affecting SMEs are fair, feasible and allow traditional SME food manufacturers to continue to produce food in traditional ways while ensuring consumer safety.
The Food Forum consists of experts from UEAPME member associations who represent the small and medium sized enterprises involved in food producing and processing. At the moment 20 experts from 8 European Member states work together in this forum. They share opinions on proposals for directives and regulations from the European Commission and prepare joint positions for the European Commission and the Parliament.
Achievements in 2011
The main challenge in 2011 has been the new Food Information for Consumers Regulation. The UEAPME Food Forum responded in detail to the 575 amendments put forward by MEPs and had exhaustive discussions with the Commission. As a result the proposals for universal country of origin labelling, full labelling of non- pre-packed foods, making the retailer responsible for the accuracy of all the labels on the goods he sells, declarations of child labour or non-union labour in the food chain and many others were eliminated from the regulation. This has meant that the new regulation, there was only a directive before, on food labelling has emerged as practical for small enterprises.
There is no doubt that without our interventions the new Regulation would have seriously disadvantaged SMEs.
The UEAPME Food Forum has continued to alert national associations to all potential and actual changes to food legislation and made it possible for those associations to speak with the officials writing both the regulations and official guidance. This has resulted in a high level of food hygiene throughout Europe with the minimum burdens of bureaucracy loaded upon businesses. Awareness of proposed legislation and the opportunity to put the SME case at the right time has significantly influenced both national government and European officials.
Watch our video: Policy for SMEs - UEAPME’s daily bread
Position papers and other documents
June 2012:
UEAPME position on nutrient profiling
January 2012: UEAPME comments on additional taxes on foods thought to be “unhealthy”
30/09/2011:
UEAPME comments on the European Commission’s consultation on inspection fees
June 2011:
UEAPME position on the impact of direct sales on SMEs
08/09/2010:
UEAPME statement on Country of Origin Labelling for Foodstuffs
22/01/2010, UEAPME statement: Traffic light labelling? In Brussels, no one speaks about it!
Ampelkennzeichnung? In Brüssel spricht kein Mensch davon!
20/11/2009:
UEAPME position on Inspection fees from EC 882/2004
13/02/2009:
UEAPME position on the salt content of foods
05/08/2008:
Updated UEAPME position on the proposal for a regulation on the provision of food information to consumers
18/04/2008:
UEAPME position on the proposal for a regulation on the provision of food information to consumers
30/10/2006:
UEAPME Position Paper on Labelling Requirements
30/10/2006:
UEAPME Position Paper on Obesity
01/03/2005:
UEAPME’s position paper on the proposed Regulation on nutrition and health claims made on foods
Press releases
06/07/2011:
Food labelling: final compromise leaves SMEs overall pleased
16/06/2010:
Food labelling: Parliament gives to SMEs with one hand but takes with the other
16/06/2006:
Simplified food labelling rules would serve consumers and producers alike
17/05/2006:
New rules on health claims: good for consumers, good for SMEs?
28/03/2006:
Health Claims: much remains to be done after Parliament’s Committee vote
14/01/2004:
UEAPME denounces Commission’s Proposal on Health Claims on Food as excessive and unfeasible for SMEs
03/06/2003:
Foodstuff legislation: UEAPME welcomes Commissioner Byrne consideration for small and micro food producers
10/02/2003:
Food and feed controls: Commission includes SMEs concerns in new proposal
Key EU documents
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers: EN, FR, DE, IT, other languages
For the hygiene regulation (EC 852/2004 and EC 853/2004) DG SANCO published a guidance document with questions and answers in all community languages as well as guidelines for competent authorities.
FAQ on flexibility for food business operators: EN; DE; FR; IT; other languages
Flexibility provisions for competent authorities: EN; DE; FR; IT; other languages
In order to assist Member States and food business operators to better understand the new food hygiene rules, the following documents were prepared by the European Commission:
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety: EN; DE; FR; IT
Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs: EN; DE; FR; IT
Guidance document on the implementation of certain provisions of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs: EN; DE; FR; IT
Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 on the hygiene of food of animal origin: EN; DE; FR; IT
Guidance document on the implementation of certain provisions of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 on the hygiene of food of animal origin: EN; DE; FR; IT
Guidance document on the implementation of procedures based on the HACCP principles, and on the facilitation of the implementation of the HACCP principles in certain food businesses: EN; DE; FR; IT
Directive 90/496/EEC on Nutrition Labelling for Foodstuffs: Discussion Paper on Revision of Technical Issues (see UEAPME response above)
Any questions?
Please contact:
Ludger Fischer
Tel: +32 (0) 2 2850 724
foodforum@ueapme.com
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