Brussels, 06/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, at a "high level" roundtable bringing together representatives from the food processing industry (Nestle, Unilever), retail trade (TESCO, United Kingdom), as well as European scientists, Commissioners Franz Fischler and David Byrne triggered a wide ranging debate on consumer expectations in terms of food production and policy, in the light of quality, safety and costs. Quality will be the central theme of the "European Day for Consumers", on 15 March.
There is a convergence of interests, but it is up to politicians to respect the desires of consumers, Franz Fischler stated during the press conference, while adding that some salient problems had been underlined such as, the restoration of consumer confidence (role given to the future European Food Authority), and transparency throughout the production cycles, which should be the subject of "talks at all levels". The two Commissioner agreed to continue the debates according to the following agenda: - organise similar roundtables at Member State level in order to gather suggestions for future policies; - orchestrate a wide ranging European debate on television and over the Internet regarding issues linked to quality, production and food safety; - organise a conference with the European Parliament; - call a European conference of those concerned; - review the progress achieved in one year, at a further high level roundtable.