Labelling Conference 2006
The Netherlands and UK held a conference on food labelling on 15-16 February 2006 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Background
Organised by the Dutch Ministry for Health, Welfare and Sport and the Food Standards Agency, the conference aimed to provide a platform for discussion about food labelling issues important to Member States and stakeholders.
The conference had the support of the European Commission.
It focused on the future of food labelling and the role of the label itself. Food labels inform consumers about different aspects of food products. Commercial information aside, labels provide information on content, safe handling, and nutrition.
There is also pressure from some consumers for more information, for labels to contain more information, such as details of production.
However, clarity and comprehension are also important for consumers, and, on any given product, the size of the label remains the same.
The questions addressed during the conference included:
- What are stakeholders' views on the current situation?
- What needs are not being met by current labelling requirements?
- Is some information required on the label less important than other information?
- What is the optimum compromise between mandatory information and label clarity?
- In what other ways could product information be made available to the consumer?
These were addressed in presentations from the food manufacturing, food retail, consumer, and small business perspectives, and there will be further opportunity to debate these issues in workshops on the first day.
The second day provided an opportunity for officials from Member States to debate the issues further.
Agenda
14 February 2006
20.00 - 21.30
Welcome reception and pre-registration at Hilton Hotel for guests arriving on this day
15 February 2006
During the plenary sessions there will be interpretation provided in English, French and German
09.00 - 09.30
Registration at Hilton Rotterdam
09.30 - 09.35
Introduction by the Chair, Mr Richard Harding
Food Standards Agency
United Kingdom
09.35 - 09.45
Opening by Mr Hans Hoogervorst
Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport
The Netherlands
09.45 - 10.00
Presentation by Mr Rob J Dortland
Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport
The Netherlands
10.00 - 10.30
Presentation by Mrs Angelika C Mrohs
Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the EU (CIAA)
10.30 - 11.00
Presentation by Mrs Silvie Pradelle
European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC)
11.00 - 11.30
Coffee/tea break
11.30 - 12.00
Presentation by Mrs Noëlle Vonthron
Retail, Wholesale and International Trade Representation to the EU (EuroCommerce)
12.00 - 12.30
Presentation by Mr Ludger Fischer
European Association of Craft, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (UEAPME)
12.30 - 14.00
Lunch
14.00 - 15.00
First Workshops
Topics to be discussed:
- What needs are not being met by the current situation?
- Is some labelling information less important than other information?
15.00 - 15.15
Short break
15.15 - 16.15
Second Workshops
Topics to be discussed
- How could information be presented?
- What could be the way forward?
In each session, there will be four separate workshops, two in English, one in French and one in German
16.15 - 16.45
Coffee/tea break
16.45 - 17.45
Plenary presentation of findings workshops (by Rapporteurs)
Closure by the Chair
18.00 - 18.30
Transport by bus from Hilton Rotterdam to dinner location (Euromast / Rotterdam)
18.30 - 19.30
Welcome drinks
19.30 - 22.00
Dinner
22.00
Departure for Hilton Rotterdam by bus
16 February 2006
Member States and European Commission only
08.30 - 09.00
Coffee/tea
09.00 - 09.10
Introduction by the Chair, Mr Richard Harding
09.10 - 09.30
Reflection by a representative of the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General, European Commission.
The rest of the day will be divided into two sessions to deal with the outcome of the four questions posed on the first day
09.30-11.00
Session 1
11.00 - 11.30
Coffee/tea
11.30 - 13.00
Session 2
13.00 - 13.05
Closure by the Chair
13.05 - 14.30
Lunch
Reports
A report of the first day and a compilation of the workshop presentations are available at the links below. Both documents are in pdf format.
The morning presentations are available on request due to the size of the files. Please contact Derek Hampson, Tel: 020 7276 8147, e-mail: labelling@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
Related links
Find out more
Food Labelling Conference 15-16 February 2006: Background paper
The European Commission is committed to reviewing the horizontal labelling directive 2000/13/EC and is expected to publish a discussion paper by the end of 2005 or early in 2006.