Since its creation, the Internal Market has enabled the food industry sector to develop considerably. The sector has benefited from access to the 370 million citizens who make up the Market. It plays a fundamental role in satisfying the needs of the consumer. It provides our economy with an annual production of 660 billion . It is also the third largest industrial employer of the European Union with over 2.6 million employees.
European companies are also major actors on the international market.
Our common objective of food safety will not be achieved without the active participation and commitment of the Industry, which we need to re-establish consumer confidence. I have already mentioned the responsibility of Member States as regards market surveillance. They are at the frontline. It is predominantly their national authorities who are confronted with dangerous products and have the responsibility to alert both their citizens and their European partners. This task is not an easy one in a world of increasing consumer demand, where new technologies and sometimes new products are developed at breathtaking pace.