Brussels, 14/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - Food waste, labelling of ready meals, Russian embargo on pork meat and, of course, GMOs: there were plenty of subjects to go round at the meeting, in Brussels on Thursday 13 February, between European Commissioner for Health Tonio Borg and Guillaume Garot, French Minister delegate with responsibility for agri-food issues.
On GMOs, Garot asked the commissioner about the “time to be taken for the implementation of the Commission's decision” authorising the cultivation of the genetically modified maize TC 1507 by Pioneer (see EUROPE 11018). Borg assured him that the Commission “will take account of the considerable majority which is opposed to the cultivation of TC 1507”, according to the French minister. “France opposes the cultivation of GMOs and this is a red line for us”, he stressed. On the broader issue of GMOs and the authorisation procedure, he pointed out that France is putting together (along with Germany) a proposal to “tighten up and simplify the legal framework”. “We have to achieve legal security, particularly for the countries of the EU which wish to ban cultivation and would not be allowed to tighten up the prohibition measures under the current reasons in Directive 2001/18”, a French source explained.
Food waste. France, which has brought in a public policy to tackle food waste, proposed the creation of a European committee to combat the wastage of food, Garot said. It would be made up of players from the institutions, associations and local authorities as well as citizens. This committee would provide a forum to debate best practice, to launch joint awareness campaigns and to deal with the legal and technical issues which make it harder to combat waste. “We need to reduce waste tangibly”, said Garot. The European Commission would be a “partner” in the work of this European committee. The FAO has already given an agreement in principle to this type of committee, Garot explained. Commissioner Borg is reported to have been interested in this initiative. A European conference on the subject of food waste will be held in Paris in June of this year, in partnership with the European Commission.
Reference to the origin of meat in ready meals. France has long been calling for a Community legislative proposal on the labelling of ready meals, following the crises (discovery of horsemeat in dishes not supposed to contain any) which have had an effect on consumer confidence. Garot stated that the Senate and National Assembly (in France) have voted through a text calling for the origin to be specified in the information on the composition of ready meals. The European Parliament has taken position to the same effect. Commissioner Borg stated that a debate on the subject would take place at the Agriculture Council in March. The question would then be put to the EP at its plenary session. Following these debates, the European Commission will take position, Garot explained. “We must not disappoint”, he said.
Crisis born of the Russian embargo on pork. Garot reiterated to the commissioner that France is anxious for the Commission to act quickly to seek the “most favourable possible outcome” to this issue, which will be debated by the Agriculture Council on Monday 17 February. Borg stressed that steps have been taken with the Russian authorities to reach a solution. (LC/transl.fl)