Every single citizen has a role to play in the drive towards higher food safety standards, better production methods, thereby ensuring higher quality foodstuffs. Indeed, recent unprecedented waves of public concern have highlighted the need for all those involved in producing, manufacturing or supplying food, on the one hand, and the official bodies responsible for regulating and controlling food safety standards, on the other, to play their part in ensuring that the highest standards are achieved and maintained. A safe food chain from farm to fork, correctly regulated and effectively controlled is the road to building this confidence. Food businesses have their role to play in this regard, as ultimately it is the responsibility of every business to ensure the safety of the foods they produce, manufacture or sell. The Commission is committed to ensuring that European consumers have access to the safest food supply in the world.
Food safety has to be the driving force in the regulation of the food supply.
In addition our legislation must be modern and flexible enough to regulate a highly technologically advanced European food industry while, at the same time, to provide sufficient safeguards in smaller more traditional food businesses. You will have seen our thoughts on how we should deliver on our objectives in the White Paper on Food Safety, which we published last year. As set out in the White Paper, the Commission s proposal for a Regulation laying down the general principles and requirements of food law and establishing the European Food Authority is the cornerstone in our overall strategy. This proposal is now the subject of scrutiny in the European Parliament and in the Council. Significant progress is being made and I am increasingly optimistic that the Council will be able to reach political agreement on this vital piece of legislation before the end of June.