Brussels, 01/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - In accordance with the hopes of the Swedish Presidency, the Internal Market/Consumer Council, managed on Thursday to agree on a common position over the issues that still divided the delegations over the functioning of the future European food authority. We are in agreement over the mandate of this body and over the food legislation that will create it, stated, following the session, the Swedish Minister Leif Pagrotsky, adding that while awaiting the European Parliament's opinion, it had not been possible to do more. Specifying that the vote in the Parliament over the draft regulation on this issue is expected for next 12 June in Strasbourg, Commissioner David Byrne expressed the hope that a common position could be adopted very quickly, if possible before the end of the Swedish Presidency, to allow the Authority to be operational by the beginning of 2002, in accordance with the timetable set out by the Heads of State and Government. The Commission must still present its proposal concerning the seat of the Agency.
Below is the object of the ministerial consensus: a) referral of Authority: a majority is in favour for the Commission, the Parliament as well as the Member States to present questions to the EFA to ask for its opinion. The details for the referral will be specified in the future; b) the scope of competences of the Authority: the delegations are in favour of a wide scope covering, other than issues food safety, animal welfare, the health of animals and plants, as proposed by the Commission, c) early warning system: the scientific assessment of dangerous products signalled should fall upon the EFA, but the management of the system should be entrusted in the Commission by avoiding overlaps, d) formation of the administrative council: all the delegations insist to increase the number of representatives from the Member States and to clarify the rules, which will cover the selection of people called upon to sit, on the basis of objective criteria.
The Council has not, on the other hand, progressed over the draft Directive relating to food supplements. The dossier will be passed on to the Belgian Presidency.