PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION CONCERNING THE CONCLUSION OF A MULTILATERAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT " COMMUNITY-COST " ON ELEVEN CONCERTED ACTION PROJECTS IN THE FIELD OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ( " FLAIR " PROGRAMME ) BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY AND COST THIRD STATES
Date: 1991-07-25
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: COST, cooperation agreement, food chemistry, research and development, scientific cooperation

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

C0M(91) 289  final-SYN 355 

Brussels, 25  July  1991 

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

concerning  the conclusion of a multilateral  Cooperation  Agreement "Community-
COST" on eleven  concerted  action projects in the field of  food  science and 
technology  ("FLAIR" programme)  between  the European Economic Community and 
COST third states. 

(presented  by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

Su 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

Proposal  for  a Council  Decision  concerning  the  conclusion  of a 
multilateral  Cooperation  Agreement  "Community-COST" on  eleven 
concerted  action  projects  in  the field of  Food  science  and  technology 
between  the  European  Economic  Community  and  COST/EFTA  third 
States  (Austria,  Finland,  Iceland,  Norway,  Sweden,  Switzerland, 
Turkey,  Yugoslavia) 

The  importance  of  European  cooperation  in  Food  science  and  technology  is 
steadily growing due  to  the  industrial  and  economic  development  in  this field 
and  to  the  increasing  progress  in  public  health  and  consumer  protection; 
mutual  benefit  shall  be derived  from  coordination  of  national  research  via 
concerted  action  projects  in  the  relevant  sectors,  and  utilization  of  specialized 
skills  and  capabilities  disseminated  throughout  Europe. 

Pursuant  to four  Council  Decisions',  four  Community-COST  concertation 
Agreements  on  concerted  action  projects  in  the  field  of  Food  science  and 
technology have  been  concluded  between  the  Community  and  several  COST 
states.  The  research  carried  out  between  1980-1988  under  those  Agreements, 
the  latter  of which  expired  on  7.06.1988,  have  produced  very  encouraging 
results. 

Moreover  the  ad  hoc COST Technical  Committee  in  the field of  food 
technology  together  with  the  CREST ad  hoc  Committee  have  recommended 
that  a number  of concerted  action  projects  could  be  implemented  as COST 
projects  in  the  framework  of  a  Community  programme  in  this field. 

By its  Decision  of 20 June  1989,  the  Council  adopted  a  multiannual  RDT 
programme  in  the field of  Food  science  and  technology  ("FLAIR"  programme: 
1/7/89  - 30/6/93)  part  of which  is carried  out  by means  of  eleven  concerted 
action  projects. 

Article  7 of  this  Decision  authorises  the  Commission  to  negotiate  Agreements 
with  third  countries  involved  in  European  cooperation  in  the  field  of  scientific 
and  technical  research  (COST)  or having  concluded  bilateral  framework 
Agreements2 for  scientific  and  technical  cooperation  with  the  Community. 

1  80/179/EEC  of  18/12/1979  (COST 90),  82/839/EEC  of  22/11/1982  (COST 

90  bis), 80/1183/EEC  of 4/12/1980  (COST 91)  and  84/304/EEC  of  24/5/1984 
(COST 9Ibis) 

2  As an  EFTA state,  Iceland  has  concluded  a  S/T  framework  bilateral  Agreement 

with  the  Community  but  has  also  formally  requested  to  become  a  new  Member of 
the  COST framework  (formal  adhesion  planned  in  1991). 

- s-

6. 

As third COST States expressed their interest to participate in some of the 
above-mentioned concerted action projects, the Commission has negotiated a 
draft Community-COST Cooperation Agreement on the following  eleven 
concerted action projects3: 

COST 901  :  Spectroscopic  techniques (Near Infrared  (NIR), Fourier 

Transform  Infrared  (FTIR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance  (NMR) 
for the rapid direct measurement of food quality 

COST 902  :  Relating sensory, instrumental and consumer choice studies 

COST 905  :  Predictive modelling of microbial growth and survival in foods 

COST 906  :  Prevention and control of potentially pathogenic micro 

organisms in poultry and poultry meat  processing 

COST 907  :  Food safety and quality based on the application of combined 
processes and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) 

COST 908  :  In-Vitro toxicological studies and real-time analysis of residues 

in food 

COST 909  :  Improvement of food safety and quality through the use of 

interactive and competitive bindings of food lectins and bacterial 
adhesins in the gut 

COST 910  :  Measurement of micronutrient absorption and status 

COST 911  :  Physiological  implication of the consumption of resistant starch 

in man 

COST 912  :  Improvement of the quality and compatibility of  food 

consumption and food composition data in Europe 

COST 913  :  Information flow on food technology,  food safety and healthy 

eating to SMEs and consumers  ("FLAIR-FLOW project) 

3  It must be noted that  the initially proposed COST 903  and COST 904  projects 

will not be implemented. 

-h-

56 

7. 

8. 

9. 

A formal meeting with representatives of the above-mentioned eight 
EFTA/COST third states, was held on 11  December  1990*.  During this 
meeting, the Commission proposed a new multilateral Community-COST 
Agreement pattern introducing a new element "the Cooperation Committee" 
which did not exist in the S & T concertation Agreements  previously 
concluded between the EC and third countries. 

This new pattern allows the EFTA countries to participate in the Community 
R &D  programmes which are managed by Committees laid down in the 
Council Decision 87/373/EEC of  13 July 1987  and takes into account the 
three-phase procedure described in the statements minuted at the Research 
Council meeting of 20 June 1989 when the FLAIR programme was adopted. 

The Commission will endeavour to achieve consistency between the  functions 
of the Cooperation Committee offered  to individual third 
COST-EFTA countries and the coordination requirement provided for in 
Article 3.4 of the proposed draft Agreement. 

10.  The COST third states having accepted as a fundamental  criterion of  reference 
the principle that FLAIR was, and has to remain, a Community programme in 
which the Community interests have to be safeguarded,  this draft  Agreement 
has been agreed on by the contracting parties. 

11.  The draft Agreement, which is annexed to the attached proposal for a Council 

Decision, provides for : 

- 

- 

the association of the interested COST/EFTA third states with the 
implementation of one or several concerted action projects of the 
Community programme; 

a financial  contribution of each third state to each of the concerted action 
projects in which it participates, amounts  to one twelth of the Community 
contribution to the project, i.e. for the period 1990-1993  : 

COST 901  : 46,000  Ecus from each participating non-Member State 

COST 902  : 61,000  Ecus from each participating non-Member State 

COST 905  and 906  : for each of these projects 27,000  Ecus from each 
participating non-Member State 

COST 909  : 18,500  Ecus from each participating non-Member State 

COST 907, COST 908, COST 910, COST 911, COST 912, COST 913  : 
for each project, 41,500  Ecus from each participating non-Member State. 

* planned at the date of 28.11.90 

S"-

the establishment of a Cooperation Committee with representatives of the 
Community and of the participating third COST/EFT A States to ensure a 
proper implementation of the Agreement and mutual coordination and 
information on the development of the concerted projects of the FLAIR 
programme.  The Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure. 

12. 

In view of the nature of the cooperation, any additional expenditure paid 
from  the Community budget  (relevant budget heading B6-8004)  resulting 
from  the implementation of this draft Agreement will be covered by the 
financial  contribution from the participating COST/EFTA third states. 

13.  The following COST third states have already expressed their willingness  to 
participate in one or more of the eleven concerted action projects  : Norway, 
Sweden, Switzerland,  Finland, Yugoslavia. 

14.  The Commission proposes that the Council adopt the attached proposal for a 

Decision. 

6o 

- I-

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

concerning the conclusion of a multilateral Community-COST Cooperation 
Agreement on eleven concerted action projects in the field  of  food science and 
technology  ("FLAIR" programme)  between the European Economic Community and 
COST third states. 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,  and in 
particular Article  130 Q2 thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1, 

In cooperation with the European Parliament2, 

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee3, 

WHEREAS by Decision 89/411/EEC4,  the Council adopted a specific  research and 
technological development programme in the field of food science and technology 
("FLAIR" programme)  (1/07/1989  - 30/06/1993); whereas Article 7 of this Decision 
authorises the Commission to negotiate  agreements with third countries involved in 
European cooperation in the field of scientific  and technical research (COST) and 
those European countries having concluded framework agreements in scientific  and 
technical cooperation with the Community, 

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 

The Community-COST Agreement between the European Community and COST 
third states on concerted action projects in the field of  Food Science  and Technology 
is hereby approved on behalf of the  European Economic Community. 

1  O.J. No C 

2  O.J. No C 

3  O.J. No C 

4  O.J. No L 200,  13.07.1989  - p.18 

-  ¥-

Article  2 

The President of the Council is hereby authorized to designate the persons 
empowered to sign the Agreement in order to bind the Community. 

Done at 

For the Couiidl 

The President 

- < ?-

41 

COOPERATION  AGREEMENT 

"COMMUNITY-COST" 

BETWEEN THE  EUROPEAN  ECONOMIC  COMMUNITY 

AND  COST THIRD  STATES 

ON  ELEVEN  CONCERTED ACTION  PROJECTS 

IN  THE  FIELD OF  FOOD  SCIENCE AND  TECHNOLOGY 

(SPECIFIC  RESEARCH  AND  TECHNOLOGICAL 

DEVELOPMENT  PROGRAMME "FLAIR") 

- y-

COOPERATION AGREEMENT "COMMUNITY-COST"  ON 
ELEVEN CONCERTED ACTION PROJECTS 
IN THE FIELD OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (FLAIR) 

THE EUROPEAN  ECONOMIC COMMUNITY, hereinafter  called  "the Community" 
and 
THE SIGNATORY STATES TO THIS AGREEMENT, hereinafter called "the participating 
non-Member  States", 

x 

• 

. 

both hereinafter  called "the Contracting Parties", 

WHEREAS European cooperation in the field of food science and technology is likely 
to contribute to the combined progress in public health and consumer protection with 
industrial  and economic  development  within  the  Community; 

WHEREAS four Community-COST  concertation  agreements  on  four  concerted action 
projects in the field of food science and technology1 have produced encouraging results 
and further  initiatives  in the  COST framework in  this  field  are  underway; 

WHEREAS  the  ad-hoc  COST Technical  Committee  in  the  field  of  food  technology 
together  with  the  CREST  ad-hoc  Committee  have  recommended  that  a  number  of 
concerted  action  projects  could  be  implemented  as  category A COST projects  in  the 
framework  of  a  Community  programme  in  this  field  -  this  COST  category  A  being 
defined by the COST Senior Officials  Committee at its meetings of  20-21/04/89  and 
28-29/06/89; 

WHEREAS,  by  its  Decision  of  20  June  19892,  the  Council  of  the  European 
Communities  adopted  a specific  research and technological  development  programme 
in  the  field  of  food  science  and  technology  "FLAIR"  for  the  period  1/07/1989  -
30/06/1993,  hereinafter  called  "the Community programme",  covering  among  other 
possibilities,  the  implementation  of  concerted  action projects; 

WHEREAS the  Member States  of  the  Community and  the  participating  non-Member 
States  intend,  subject  to  the  rules  and  procedures  applicable  to  their  national 
programmes,  to  carry  out  the  research  described  in  Annex  A  and  are  prepared  to 
integrate  such research into a process of concertation which  they consider will  be of 
mutual  benefit, 

COST 90,  COST 91,  COST 90bis  and COST 91bis  projects 

OJ N° L 200,  13.07.1989,  p.  31 

-<0 

G^» 

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS : 

ARTICLE 1 

The  Contracting  Parties shall  participate  for  a period  extending  until  30  June  1993 
to one  or several  of  the  following  concerted  action projects3 : 

-  COST 901  : 

Spectroscopic techniques "Near Infrared (NIR), Fourier Transform 
Infrared  (FTIR),  Nuclear  Magnetic  Resonance  (NMR)"  for  the 
rapid direct  measurement  of  food  quality 

-  COST 902  : 

Relating sensory,  instrumental  and consumer  choice  studies 

-  COST 905  : 

Predictive  modelling of microbial  growth and survival  in  foods 

-  COST 906  : 

Prevention and control of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms 
in poultry and poultry meat  processing 

-  COST 907  : 

Food  safety  and  quality  based  on  the  application  of  combined 
processes  and hazard analysis critical  control  point  (HACCP) 

-  COST 908  : 

In vitro toxicological studies and real-time analysis of residues in 
food 

-  COST 909  : 

Improvement  of  food  safety  and  quality  through  the  use  of 
interactive  and competitive bindings of food lectins and bacterial 
adhesins  in the  gut 

-  COST 910  :  Measurement  of  micronutrient  absorption and  status 

-  COST 911  : 

Physiological  implications of  the consumption  of  resistant  starch 
in man 

-  COST 912  : 

Improvement of the quality and compatibility of food consumption 
and food  composition  data  in  Europe 

-  COST 913  : 

Information  flow  on  food  technology,  food  safety  and  healthy 
eating  to  SMEs and consumers  ("FLAIR-FLOW* project) 

3  It must  be  noted  that  the  initially proposed  COST 903  and COST  904 

projects will finally not  be  implemented 

~H-

These projects shall consist in concertation between  the Community concerted  action 
projects and  the corresponding programmes of  the participating  non-Member States. 
The content  of  research  topics  covered  by this Agreement  is  specified  in Annex A. 

The  Member  and  non-Member  States  of  the  Community  shall  remain  entirely 
responsible  for  the  research carried  out  by their own  institutions  or bodies. 

ARTICLE 2 

The  estimated financial contributions  of  the  Contracting  Parties  to  the  coordination 
costs  for  the  period  referred  to  in  the first paragraph of  Article  1  shall  be,  for  each 
of  the  eleven  concerted  action  projects : 

COST project  901 

550,000  ecus from the  Community 
46,000  ecus from each participating  non-Member  State 

COST project  902 

730,000  ecus from the  Community 
61,000  ecus from each  participating  non-Member  State 

COST project  905 

325,000  ecus from the  Community 
27,000  ecus from each  participating  non-Member  State 

COST project  906 

325,000  ecus from the  Community 
27.000  ecus from each participating  non-Member  State 

COST project  907 

500,000  ecus  from the  Community 
41,500  ecus from each  participating  non-Member  State 

COST project  908 

500,000  ecus from the Community 
41,500  ecus from each participating  non-Member  State 

COST project  909 

220,000  ecus from the  Community 
18,500  ecus from each  participating  non-Member  State 

COST project  910 

500,000  ecus from the  Community 
41,500  ecus from each  participating  non-Member  State 

COST project  911 

500,000  ecus from the  Community 
41,500  ecus  from each  participating  non-Member  State 

COST project  912 

500,000  ecus from the  Community 
41,500  ecus from each  participating  non-Member  State 

COST project  913 

500,000  ecus  from  the  Community 
41,500  ecus from each  participating  non-Member  State 

The  rules  governing  the  financing  of  this  Agreement  and  the  timetable  of  the 
commitment  estimates  are set  out  in Annex B. 

ARTICLE 3 

1.  For  the  purposes  of  this  Agreement,  a  Cooperation  Committee  to  assist  the 
Commission in  the implementation of  the concerted action  projects of  the  specific 
research and technological development programme in the field of food science and 
technology  ("FLAIR"  programme),  adopted  by  Decision  of  the  Council  of  the 
European Communities of 20 June 1989, hereinafter referred to as "the Committee", 
is  hereby established. 

2.  The  Committee  shall  consist  of  representatives  of  the  Community  and  the 
participating  non-Member  States  for  the  implementation  of  the  concerted  action 
projects. 

3.  The Committee shall be consulted on all the matters concerning the implementation 

of  this  Agreement.  For this  purpose,  it  shall  make  recommendations. 

4.  The  representative  of  the  Community  shall  take  the  appropriate  steps  to  ensure 
coordination between the implementation of this Agreement and the decisions taken 
by the Community in respect of the implementation of the Community programme. 

5.  For the  purpose  of  the  proper implementation  of  this Agreement,  the  Contracting 
Parties shall exchange  information  and, at the request  of  any of  the  Parties,  shall 
hold  consultations  within  the  Committee. 

6.  The  Committee  shall  adopt  its  own  rules  of  procedure  and  it  shall  meet,  at  the 
request of any of  the Contracting Parties, in accordance with  the conditions  to be 
laid  down in its  rules of  procedure. 

ARTICLE 4 

1.  The  Contracting  Parties  shall  regularly  exchange  all  useful  information  resulting 
from  the  carrying  out  of  the  research  covered  by  the  concerted  action  projects. 
They  shall  also  endeavour  to  provide  information  on  similar  research  planned  or 
carried out by other bodies.  Any information shall be treated as confidential  if the 
Contracting  Party which  provides  it  so requests. 

2.  The  scientific  results  of  the  concerted  action  projects  shall  be  published  by  the 
Commission,  except  in  so  far  as  they  are  declared  confidential  by  one  of  the 
Contracting  Parties. 

~/3 

3.  The  Commission  shall  prepare  activity  reports  on  the  basis  of  the  information 
supplied  and  shall  forward  them  to  the  Member  and  non-Member  States  of  the 
Community. 

4.  At the  end  of  the period of  the  FLAIR programme,  the Commission  shall  forward 
to  the  Member and non-Member States  of  the Community  the  general  reports  on 
the  execution  and results  of  these  concerted  action projects. 

ARTICLE 5 

1.  This  Agreement  shall  be  open  for  signature  by  the  Community  and  by  the 
participating non-Member States which took part in the ministerial conference held 
in  Brussels  on  22  and 23  November 1971. 

2.  As a condition precedent to its participation in the concerted action projects defined 
in  Article  1,  each  of  the  Contracting  Parties  shall,  when  signing  this  Agreement, 
have  notified  the  Secretary-General  of  the  Council  of  the  European  Communities 
of the concerted action projects in which it intends to participate and, after signing 
this Agreement, have notified the Secretary-General of the Council of the European 
Communities  of  the  completion  of  the  procedures  necessary  under  its  internal 
provisions  for  the  implementation  of  this Agreement. 

3.  For the  Contracting  Parties  which  transmit  the  latter  notification  provided  for  in 
the  paragraph  2,  this  Agreement  shall  come  into  force  on  the  first  day  of  the 
month following that in which the Community and at least one of the participating 
non-Member  States  transmitted  these  notifications. 

For those  Contracting  Parties which  transmit  the  notification  after  the  entry  into 
force  of  this  Agreement,  it  shall  come  into  force  on  the  first  day  of  the  second 
month  following  that  in  which  the  notification  was  transmitted.  Contracting 
Parties which  have  not  transmitted  this  notification  when  this  Agreement  comes 
into force shall be able to take part in the work of the Committees without  voting 
rights. 

4.  The  Secretary-General  of  the  Council  of  the  European  Communities  shall  inform 
each of  the Contracting Parties of  the notifications  made pursuant  to paragraph  2 
and  of  the  date  of  entry  into  force  of  this Agreement. 

-Ù-

68 

ARTICLE 6 

1.  This Agreement shall be concluded for the duration of the Community programme. 
Should  the Community revise the Community programme,  the Agreement  may be 
denounced  under mutually agreed  conditions  between  the  Contracting  Parties. 

2.  Where the Community adopts a new R&D  programme in the field of food science 
and technology,  this Agreement  may be renegotiated  or renewed  under  mutually 
agreed  conditions. 

3.  Subject to paragraph  1, any of  the Contracting Parties may at any time  terminate 
this Agreement with six months notice.  Tfce projects and work in progress at the 
time of  termination and/or expiry of this Agreement shall  be continued  until  they 
are  completed  under the  conditions  laid down  in  this Agreement. 

ARTICLE 7 

This Agreement  shall  apply,  on  the  one  hand,  to  the  territories  in which  the  Treaty 
establishing  the  European Economic  Community is applied  and under  the  conditions 
laid down in that Treaty and, on the other hand, to the territories of the  participating 
non-Member  States. 

ARTICLE 8 

This Agreement,  drawn up in a single original in the Danish,  Dutch,  English, French, 
German,  Greek,  Italian,  Portuguese  and  Spanish  languages,  each  text  being  equally 
authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the General Secretariat  of  the Council 
of  the  European  Communities  which  shall  transmit  a  certified  copy  to  each  of  the 
Contracting Parties. 

- / S "-

ANNEXA 

RESEARCH TOPICS COVERED BY THE AGREEMENT 

The  Community  programme  includes  the  following  eleven  COST  concerted  action 
projects  : 

1.  Spectroscopic  techniques "Near Infrared  (NIR). Fourier Transform  Infrared (FTIR). 
Nuclear  Magnetic  Resonance  (NMR)" for the  rapid  direct  measurement  of  food 
quality  (COST 901) 

To  provide  rapid,  instrumental  food  quality  measurement  techniques  to  satisfy 
consumer/industrial  needs  within  the  European Community. 

a)  Signal  interpretation  : to  interpret,  define,  process  and quantify,  instrumental 

signals  in order to  understand  and justify  signal/quality  relationships. 

b)  Mathematical treatment/interpretation  of instrumental data  : to modify signals 
and combine signal data from different  instrument  types,  in order to relate the 
signal  to  food  quality characteristics. 

c)  Instrument and experimental design : to optimise instrumental and experimental 

design for  measurement  of  food  quality. 

d)  Computer  database  :  to  collate  and  disseminate  findings  from  signal 
interpretation,  instrument  and  experimental  design  to  produce  value  added 
information  to  enable  effective  prediction  of  food  quality  for  specific  food 
applications. 

2.  Relating  sensory,  instrumental  and  consumer  choice  studies  (COST  902) 

a)  To characterise  relationships  between instrumental  data and sensory data and 

between  consumer  choice  studies  and sensory data. 

b)  To review and develop functional and applied models for food choice behaviour. 

c)  To establish a database for state-of-the-art  of instrumental  methods as relating 

to  sensory  perception  of  foods. 

d)  To improve compatibility of European food industries  through fast and efficient 
transfer  of  results  from  research  to  applied  product  development,  control  and 
assurance. 

e)  To develop approaches to sensory analysis issues which will  permit application 

of  the  techniques  in other  foods  and  food  constituents. 

3.  Predictive  modelling  of  microbial  growth  and  survival  in  foods  (COST  905) 

a)  Establishment of databases on predictive microbiological  research by individual 

groups. 

% 

•^•o 

b)  To  ensure  the  maximum  compatibility  and  effectiveness  of  the  systems 

developed. 

c)  To  develop  (an)  integrated  large  database(s)  transfer  to  Member  States  and 
COST  countries  and  ensure  their  effective  use  for  the  benefit  of  a  safe  and 
stable  food  supply. 

4.  Prevention  and  control  of  potentially  pathogenic  microorganisms  in  poultry  and 

poultry  meat  processing  (COST 906) 

a)  Prevention  of  infection  of  live  birds  (including  game  birds)  with  potentially 
pathogenic  microorganisms  including Salmonella,  Campylobacter,  Listeria and 
Staphylococcus  aureus. 

b)  Prevention  of  contamination  of  poultry meat  and poultry  meat  products. 

c)  Application  of  methods  for  end-product  decontamination  and  protection. 

d)  Development  of  sampling protocols. 

e)  Development  and  application  of  microbiological  detection  methods. 

5.  Food safety and quality based on the application of combined processes and hazard 

analysis  critical  control  point  (HACCP) (COST 907) 

Cooperation between scientists and industrialists to achieve a systematic and unified 
approach  to  the  application  of  combined  methods  for  food  preservation  and 
implementation  of  hazard  analysis/risk  assessment  systems  by : 

a)  the  application  of  systems  to  cover quality  as  well  as  safety  considerations. 
b)  the  application  of  systems  to  cover  all  major  sectors  of  food  and  drink 

processing,  distribution  retailing  and catering  industries. 

c)  the application of systems to classical and newly developed  food products with 

emphasis  on  those  preserved  by multiple  parameters. 
d)  acquisition  of  data  suitable  for  modelling  and/or 

inclusion  in  hazard 

analysis/risk  assessments. 

e)  the  practical  application  and  evaluation  of  systems  for  safety  and  quality 

improvement  in  the  food  and  drink and  allied  industries. 

6.  In vitro toxicological studies and real-time analysis of residues in food  (COST 908) 

a)  To develop chromatographic/mass spectrometric methods for trace analysis such 
that  real-time  monitoring  for  a  variety  of  food  contaminants  at  the  required 
specificity  and sensitivity  becomes  possible. 

b)  To  develop  and  validate  a  set  of  in  vitro  test  systems  for  screening  of  the 

biological  and  toxicological  properties of  these  contaminants. 

c)  To  integrate  the  above  developments  to  provide  robust,  versatile  monitoring 

systems  for  the  food  industry. 

-n-

c)  To  harmonise  test  methodologies  for  food  safety  and  quality  evaluation 

procedures  at  the  European level. 

7.  Improvement  of  food  safety  and  qaalitv  through  the  use  of  interactive  and 
competitive  bindings  of  food  lectins  on bacterial  adhesins  in  the  gut  (COST 909) 

To  find  specific  plant  lectins  and/or  polysaccharides  which,  as  natural  dietary 
supplements,  will  abolish  or  minimise  the  harmful  bacterial  colonisation  of  the 
small  intestine  and other parts  of  the gastro-intestinal  tract  by studies  on  : 

a)  Effects  of  plant  lectins from the  seeds  of  kidney  and  soya  bean  on  bacterial 
adhesins  of  E-coli in vitro  with various  human cell  lines  in  cell  cultures. 

b)  Effects of plant lectins on bacterial binding and on the morphology and function 

of  the  rat small  intestine  in vivo. 

c)  The blockage of the binding of bacterial adhesins to the gut wall with selected 

plant  lectins  or saccharides  both  in vitro  and  in vivo. 

8.  Measurement  of  micronutrient  absorption  and status  (COST  910) 

To assess critically priorities for the status of micronutrients in the COST countries 
and  to  develop  and  validate  methods  which  allow  more  accurate  and  sensitive 
measurements  of  intake,  absorption  and status  of  these  micronutrients  in man. 

a)  To  improve  the  precision  and  sensitivity  of  stable  isotope  methods  for 

measuring  micronutrient  absorption and status. 

b)  Development  of 

instrumental  and  biospecific  methods 

for  quantifying 

micronutrients  in food,  feed  components  and  in  the  diet. 

c)  Development of biospecific, chromatographic and spectrometric methods for the 

assessment  of  micronutrient  status. 

d)  Identify functional indicators (e.g. growth rates, immune response, behaviourial 
and physical  performance)  of  variations  in  micronutrient  intake  and status. 

9.  Physiological  implication  of  the  consumption  of  resistant  starch  in  man  (COST 

°±n 

a)  Problem  of  measurement  and  characterisation  of  various  forms  of  resistant 

starch  (RS)  in various  foods  and raw materials. 

b)  Content  of  RS in  present  Western diets. 

c)  Variability  and  dependency  of  the  molecular  structure  of  RS on  the  source  of 

starch,  processing  conditions,  amylose/amylopectin  ratio. 

d)  Physicochemical  and physiological  similarities  and differences  between  RS and 

fermentable  dietary  fibre. 

-\2 

e)  RS  from  various  sources  and  their  effects  on  human  physiology  :  blood 
lipoproteins,  gastrointestinal  function  (anti-constipation,  gas 
cholesterol, 
formation,  diarrhoea)  absorption  of  other  nutrients,  risk  of  colon  cancer, 
atherosclerosis,  diabetes  and energy content. 

0 

If  RS  appears  beneficial  for  health  how  can  the  consumption  be  raised  by 
production  of  foods  with  increased  RS content  ? 

g)  How should  foods  containing  RS be labelled  to  guide  the  consumer ? 

10. 

Improvement  of  the  quality  and  compatibility  of  food  consumption  and  food 
composition  data  in  Europe  (COST 912) 

Assessment  of  data  on  food  intake  and  formulation  of  guidelines  to  ensure  the 
construction  of  compatible  food  compositional  databases  for  use  with  food 
consumption  surveys. 
information  on  food  availability, 
expenditure  by households  and individuals  on food  and what  people  actually eat. 
The  action wfll  provide  : 

Provide  adequate 

a)  an overview  of  results  already obtained  ; 
b)  a series of recommendations  for collection and use of  food  balance sheets and 
for the construction of a food compositional  database  of  food  balance sheets  ; 
c)  a  series  of  recommendations  for  improvement,  harmonisation  and  use  of 
household  budget  surveys  and  for  the  construction  of  a  food  compositional 
database  of  household  budget  surveys  ; 

d)  a  series  of  recommendations  for  the  implementation  of  individual  dietary 
surveys and for the construction of a food compositional database for use with 
individual  dietary studies,  both  at a national  and  regional  level  ; 

e)  a series of studies in which the recommendations  will be tested with a limited 

number of surveys. 

11- 

Information flow and food  technology, food  safety and healthy eating to small 
and medium sized enterprises  (SMEs)  and consumers  ("FLAIR-FLOW1 project) 
(COST 913) 

Explore/investigate  existing  and  new  national  routes  and  procedures  in  EC and 
COST Third States  for  the  dissemination  of  information  on  food  technology,  food 
safety  and "healthy" eating : 

a)  to  achieve  effective  dissemination  flow  with  consequent  benefits  to  industry, 

SMEs, consumers  and  policy  makers ; 

b)  to  study/analyze/assess/recommend  different  methods  and  effectiveness  of 
alternative ways of dissemination  - i.e; results of  the  FLAIR programme, other 
COST actions (Cat. B) and other R&D  projects to be used for planning future 
programmes  ; 

c)  to  ensure  dissemination  via  national  existing  networks  of  databases  and 
national/international workshops, food industry newsletters, consumer bulletins, 
etc. 

- / ?-

ANNEX  B 

FINANCING RULES 

1.  These provisions lay down the financial  rules referred to in Article 2 of the present 

"Community  - COST" Cooperation Agreement. 

2.  Annually,  or whenever  the Community programme  is  revised  so  as  to  involve  an 
increase  in  the  amount  estimated  as  necessary  for  its  implementation,  the 
Commission  shall  send  to  the  participating  non-Member  States  a  call.for  funds 
corresponding  to its  contribution  to  the costs' under this Agreement. 

In  particular,  at  the  beginning  of  each  year,  the  Commission  shall  send  to  each 
participating  non-Member  State  a call  for funds  corresponding  to  the  number  of, 
and the amount involved in, concerted action projects in which it participates and 
to  its  share  of  the  annual  coordination  costs  under  this  Agreement,  calculated  in 
proportion  to  the  amounts  laid  down  in Article  2  of  this Agreement. 

This  contribution  shall  be  expressed  both  in  ecu  and  the  currency  of  the 
participating  non-Member  State  concerned,  the  composition  of  the  ecu  being 
defined in Council Regulation (EEC) N° 3180/78\  as amended by Regulation (EEC) 
N° 1971/895.  The value of  the ecu shall  be determined  on the date of  the call of 
funds. 

The total contributions shall cover the travel and subsistence costs of the delegates, 
in addition  to  the  coordination  costs  proper. 

Each  participating  non-Member  State  shall  pay  its  annual  contribution  to  the 
coordination costs  under the Agreement at  the beginning of  each year,  and by 31 
March  at  the  latest.  Any  delay  in  the  payment  of  the  annual  contribution  shall 
give  rise  to  the  payment  of  interest  by  the  participating  non-Member  State 
concerned  at  a  rate  equal  to  the  highest  discount  rate  obtained  in  the  Member 
States of  the Community on  the due date.  The rate shall  be increased  by 0.25  of 
a  percentage  point  for  each  month  of  delay.  The  increased  rate  shall  be  applied 
to  the  entire  period of  delay.  However,  such  interest  shall  be  chargeable  only  if 
payment  is  effected  more  than  three  months  after  the  issue  of  a call  for  funds  by 
the  Commission. 

OJ N° L 379,  30.12.1978,  p.l 

OJ N° L 189,  04.07.1989,  p.l 

-10-

•*M 

3.  The  funds  paid  by  participating  non-Member  States  shall  be  credited  to  the 
concerted action projects in which they participate as budget  receipts  allocated  to 
a heading in the statement  of  the  revenue  of  the general  budget  of  the  European 
Communities  (Commission  Section). 

4.  The financial plan for the coordination costs of  the  11  concerted  projects  referred 

to  in Article  2  of  the Agreement  is  appended  hereto. 

5.  The Financial Regulation in force applicable to the general budget of the European 

Communities  shall  apply  to  the  management  of  the  appropriations. 

6.  At  the  end  of  the  programme,  a  statement  of  appropriations  for  each  concerted 
action project  shall be  prepared and transmitted  to  the participating  non-Member 
States  for  information. 

FINANCIAL APPENDDC 

"FLAIR' : CONCERTED ACTION PROJECT COST 901 

YEARLY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS  (ECU)  OF THE COMMUNITY AND OF EACH PARTICIPATING NON-MEMBER STATE 

1. 

Community contribution : 
Estimate of  administrative 
operating  expenditure 

137.500 

137.500 

137.500 

137.500 

550.000 

1990 

1991 

1222 

1993 

Total 

Total 

137.500 

137.500 

137.500 

137.500 

550.000 

Contributions  from 
participating  non-Member  States 

(nx11500) 

(nxllSOO) 

(nx11500) 

(nxllSOO) 

(nx46000) 

New  Total  : 

137.500+ 
(nxllSOO) 

137.500+ 
(nxllSOO) 

137.500+ 
(nxllSOO) 

137.500+ 
(nx11500) 

550.000+ 
(nx46000) 

<\3 

n 

s  number of  participating  non-Member  States 

COST 901  : 

Spectroscopic  techniques for the rapid direct  measurement  of  food  quality 

FINANCIAL APPENDLX 

"FLAIR' : CONCERTED ACTION PROJECT COST 902 

YEARLY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS  fECU)  OF THE COMMUNITY AND OF EACH PARTICIPATING NON-MEMBER STATE 

1. 

Community contribution  : 
Estimate  of  administrative 
operating  expenditure 

1220 

1221 

1222 

1993 

Total 

182.500 

182.500 

182.500 

182.500 

730.000 

Total  : 

182.500 

182.500 

182.500 

182.500 

730.000 

2. 

Contributions  from 
participating  non-Member  States 

(nx!5250) 

(11x15250) 

(nxl5250) 

(nxl5250) 

(nx61000) 

New  Total  : 

182.500+ 
(nxl5250) 

182.500+ 
(nxl52S0) 

182.S00+ 
(nxl5250) 

182.500+ 
(nxl5250) 

730.000+ 
(nx61000) 

n 

*  number of  participating  non-Member  States 

COST 902  : 

Sensory  instrumental  and  consumer  choice  studies 

FINANCIAL APPENDIX 

'FLAIR' : CONCERTED ACTION PROJECTS COST 909 

YEARLY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS  (ECU)  OF THE COMMUNITY AND OF EACH PARTICIPATING  NON-MEMBER STATE 

1. 

Community contribution  : 
Estimate  of  administrative 
operating  expenditure 

55.000 

55.000 

55.000 

55.000 

220.000 

1990 

1991 

1992 

1993 

Total 

Total 

55.000 

55.000 

55.000 

55.000 

220.000 

2. 

Contributions  from 
participating  non-Member  States 

(nx4625) 

(nx4625) 

(nx462S) 

(nx4625) 

(nxl8.500) 

New  Total  : 

55.000+ 
(11X4625) 

55.000+ 
(nx4625) 

55.000+ 
(nx4625) 

S 5.000+ 
(nx4625) 

220.000+ 
(nx!8.500) 

n 

«  number of  participating  non-Member  States 

COST 909  : 

The  use  of  food  lectins  to  improve  food  safety  and quality 

FINANCIAL  APPENDIX 

"FLAIR'  :  CONCERTED  ACTION  PROJECTS  COST  905.  COST  906 

YEARLY  FINANCIAL  CONTRIBUTIONS  (ECU)  OF  THE  COMMUNITY  AND  OF  EACH  PARTICIPATING  NON-MEMBER  STATE 
FOR  EACH  OF  THE  2  ABOVE-MENTIONED  PROJECTS 

1. 

Community  contribution  : 
Estimate  of  administrative 
operating  expenditure 

1222 

1991 

1222 

1993 

Total 

81.250 

81.250 

81.250 

81.250 

325.000 

Total 

81.250 

81.250 

81.250 

81.250 

325.000 

2. 

Contributions  from 
participating  non-Member  States 

(nx6750) 

(nx6750) 

(nx6750) 

(nx6750) 

(nx27000) 

New  Total  : 

81.250+ 
(nx6750) 

81.250+ 
(nx67S0) 

81.250+ 
(nx67S0) 

81.250+ 
(nx6750) 

325.000+ 
(nx6750) 

i 

n 

•  number of  participating  non-Member  States 

COST 905  : 
COST 906  : 

Predictive  modelling  of  microbial  growth  and  survival  in  foods 
Prevention  and  control  of  potentially  pathogenic  micro-organisms  in poultry  food  processing 

FINANCIAL AP?£NDIX 

'FLAIR'  :  CONCERTED  ACTION  rr.OJECTS  COST 907.  908.  910.  911. 912.  913 

YEARLY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS  (ECU)  OF THE  COMMUNnY  AND OF EACH PARTICIPATING  NON-MEMBER STATE 
FOR  EACH  OF THE  6  ABOVE-NLE.NTIONED PROJECTS 

1. 

Community  contribution  : 
Estimate of  administrative 
operating  expenditure 

1990 

1991 

1222 

1993 

Total 

125.000 

125.000 

125.000 

125.000 

500.000 

Total  : 

125.000 

125.000 

125.000 

125.000 

500.000 

Contributions  from 
participating  non-Member  States 

(nxl0375) 

(nxl0375) 

(=a10375) 

(nxl0375) 

(nx41500) 

New  Total 

125.000+ 
(nxl0375) 

125.000+ 
(nxl0375) 

125.000+ 
(rji 10375) 

125.000+ 
(nxl0375) 

500.000+ 
(nx41500) 

I 

n 

=  number  of  participating  non-Member  States 

COST 907  :  Food  safety  and  quality  based  on  the  application  of  combined  processes  • hazsrd  analysis  critical  control  point  (HACCP) 

COST 908  :  In  vitro  toxicological  studies  and  real-time  analysis  of  residues  in  food 

COST 910  :  Measurements  of  micronutrient  absorption  and  status 

COST 911  :  Physiological  implications  of  the  consumption  of  resistant  starch  in  man 

COST 912  :  Improvement  of  the  quality  and  compatibility  of  food  consumption  and  food  composition  data  in  Europe 

COST 913  :  Information  flow  on  food  technology,  food  safety  and  healthy  eating  to  SMEs  *nd  consumers  CFLAIR-FLOW  project") 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(91) 289 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

15 

Catalogue number : CB-CO-91-334-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-74741-2 

Office  for Official  Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg