WRITTEN QUESTION E-0063/03

by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 January 2003)

Subject: Food Law Enforcement Practitioners (FLEP)

1. To what extent does the Food Law Enforcement Practitioners group (FLEP) influence European Commission policy in food safety matters?

In the minutes of the meeting of the Netherlands food inspection service (KvW) on 19 September 2001 in The Hague it was said of the FLEP that:

The original aim of the FLEP was to gain an understanding of the organisation of the inspection of food in different countries Subsequently it involved the exchange of information between countries and advising the European Commission Mr Wolfs responded that many of the FLEP's recommendations were taken on board by the European Commission and that the FLEP had a great deal of influence on the programmes coordinated.

2. Is the European Commission aware that it is impossible for the European Parliament and national associations in the food and catering sector to obtain information on the matters being discussed in this informal club?

3. Does the Commission consider that it is healthy for an informal consultative body to have so much influence on its decision-making when the general public, politicians and interest groups are denied access to information about the relevant meetings?

4. Does the Commission intend to make this information more accessible?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(24 February 2003)

1. The Commission has had only sporadic correspondence with the Food Law Enforcement Practitioners group (FLEP) and considers this association in the same way as any other association or group with interests in the field of food safety.

For the preparation of the co-ordinated control programme of foodstuffs for 2001, the Commission received a number of suggestions from FLEP, some of which, after discussion with the Member States within the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, were taken into consideration. For the co-ordinated control programmes for 2003, as for 2002, no suggestions have been received from FLEP and the main areas of control activities have been selected from a list of priorities proposed by the Commission and the Member States.

2. As mentioned above, the Commission had only sporadic contacts with the FLEP group and, therefore, is not aware of the activities and of the matters discussed by this association.

3. The Commission places great importance on public consultation and information concerning all Community activities, particularly in the food safety area. In this regard, Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 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(1), clearly states that there shall be open and transparent public consultation directly or through representative bodies, during the preparation, evaluation and revision of food law . Therefore, the Commission consults widely all stakeholders concerned on its proposals in an early stage of preparation and makes available on its web-site information on all the Community activities in the food safety area, including summary reports of all the meetings of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.

4. It is the intention of the Commission to make every effort to develop further its communication and consultation policy aiming at ensuring, in an equal manner, a larger participation of citizens, consumers and stakeholders in the Community activities in the field of food safety as well as animal health and welfare, plant health, etc. The Commission is currently preparing a concrete proposal establishing a formal consultation procedure at European level and creating a Consultation Committee on the food chain and animal health.

(1) OJ L 31, 1.2.2002.