Brussels, 23/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - The publication by the European Commission and the member states of an EU guide to good hygiene practices for the collection, storage, trading and transport of cereals, oilseeds and vegetable proteins has been welcomed by the big farm interest lobby groups COGECA and COCERAL (European agri-cooperatives, and the Cereals, Silage, Oilseeds, Olive Oil, Oils and Fats Committee in the EU, respectively).
The guide has been endorsed by the EU's Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Safety, comprising representatives of the member states. The advantage of the guide is that it harmonises the various member states' guides to good practice and therefore eliminates any conflicting information.
Pekka Pesonen, the secretary-general of EU farm interest group COPA-COGECA, welcomed the guide's publication: “It has been developed not only to ensure that all operators respect European legislation, but in response to the high standards of food and feed safety demanded by European consumers. Following its publication in the Official Journal, the guide will serve as a reference for all operators of the European market and the European control authorities”.
Teresa Babuscio, the secretary-general of COCERAL, said: “The European organisations COCERAL and COGECA represent the main operators in the grain trade. With more than 300 milling tons of collected raw material, from EU farmers or imported from (outside the EU), the recognition of this guide represents a real move towards harmonising hygiene practice across the different member states”.
The guide is voluntary and non-binding and therefore cooperatives and companies are free to choose whether to apply it. It will be published in the Official Journal late this month. (I.J./transl.fl)