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SPECIALREPORTOur daily breadALudger Fischer invites commission officials to experience a day in the life of a small business in the hope of re-educating them on food labels ers vary their production every day, according to season and availability. Their production is not standardised – small craft producers, retailers and caterers may never make the same product twice. Labelling and applying a fully fledged nutritional notice on each of their products is either impossible or too expensive. In both cases, it would push the business out of the market – not to mention, of course, that it would dramatically reduce the choices available to those consumers that the commission wanted to protect in the first place. In other parts of the text, the requirements would be almost amusing if they were not so serious. Take the 3mm minimum font size: how could a small producer couple those requirements with ever-smaller boxes or with the transparent packaging that is so en vogue these days? Or what about the totally misleading traffic light labelling idea: healthy dark bread would have got a red light due to its content of salt. Another blatant misunderstanding was the clause holding small retailers accountable for the labelling of proprietary goods – clearly, that responsibility must lie with the original producer, common sense would dictate. But not according to the commission: retailers would have to unpack, verify and relabel, if need be. Truth be told, the proposal included a grace period for small businesses. But this did not make the provisions any more possible or less expensive. According to a study by the Austrian federal economic chamber, all this could have cost the country’s food business operators from €60m to as much as €480m in the worst-case scenario (if rules were extended to unpacked food and included nutritional information). On a European scale, a conservative estimate would have put the total cost within a range of between €800m and €6bn. The figures speak for themselves. Thankfully, the European parliament seems to have understood our concerns. The report recently tabled by Renate Sommer is a breath of fresh air for small food producers. It manages to strike a very good balance between the need to protect and inform consumers, simplify the existing rules and allow small food producers to put them in place without being forced out of the market – and without diminishing the distinctiveness of typical European fresh foodstuffs. The parliament should support Sommer’s work.couple of years ago, the European commission launched ‘Enterprise Experience’, a one-week programme to give DG enterprise civil servants a glimpse of everyday life in a small firm. Judging from the quality of the proposal on food labelling that came out of the Berlaymont in December 2007, a second round involving staff from other DGs is much needed. The original proposal for a regulation on food information to consumers would have dramatically increased the legal requirements and administrative burdens on the 300,000 small food businesses operating in Europe, which provide about half of all food consumed in the EU. I, for one, could not believe my eyes: 96 pages written in extremely technical language, missing definitions, with mandatory obligations scattered around the text that made the document difficult to understand and easy to misinterpret. All this, I thought, coming from the very same commission that pledged to cut red tape and roll out the red carpet for small entrepreneurs. Among our biggest concerns in the original text was the inclusion of non-prepacked food and the mandatory demand for nutritional information on all food. Small food produc“What about the totally misleading traffic light labelling idea: healthy dark bread would have got a red light due to its content of salt”Dr Ludger Fischer is a food policy advisor at UEAPME, the European employers’ organisation, which represents over 12 million SMEs and 55 million staff in Europe2 February 2009 PARLIAMENT MAGAZINE 33 Issue 281 2 February 2009Damage limitation “WE SAW MANY WOMEN WITH NO TEARS TO CRY ”Luisa Morgantini on the conflict in Gaza, who she’s backing for parliament president and how the EU can conquer the hearts and minds of voters ahead of June’s elections World Cancer Day Liz Lynne, the ECPC’s, Hildrun Child Online Safety Opportunity and SecurityThe Internet offers children tremendous educational and social benefits, but may also expose them to harmful images, predators and bullying. If the web is to realise its true potential, parents need to know that in enjoying the very best opportunities for Issue 281 2 February 2009NEWSANALYSIS 6 Czech mates The Parliament Magazine’s new year reception was a packed affair, thanks in part to the hospitality of the Czech EU presidencySPECIALREPORT FOOD LABELLING 29 Lost in the supermarket The commission’s proposal on food labelling risks confusing consum CATHERINESTIHLEREDITORIAL TEAM Managing editor Brian Johnson Martin Banks Sarah Collins Martha Moss International Press Centre Boulevard Charlemagne 1 Box 2 Brussels 1041 Tel +32 (0)2 285 0828 newsdesk@theparliament. www.theparliament.com EDITORIAL BOARD Editor Catherine Stihler MEP Editorial board PARLIAMENT MAGAZINE NEW YEAR RECEPTION??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?????? NEWSANALYSIS 2 February 2009 PARLIAMENT MAGAZINE 7 European Commission European Commission Enterprise and Industry Enterprise and Industry NEWSANALYSISPest (mis) management The recent European parliament ban on 22 substances linked to cancer is a step too far for Neil ParishPlease don’t misunderstand me, it is vitally important that any pesticides likely to be harmful to human health or to the environment must be removed from the marke TÊTE À TÊTE | AsylumHaven or hell? Marking the first in a new series of tête à tête debates in the Parliament Magazine, Judith Kumin and Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert examine the reality of the common European asylum policy Dear Ms Hennis-Plasschaert, UNHCR/C. Vandervoort/2007Dear Ms Kumin,Judith Kumin NEWSANALYSISUNHCR/A. Rodríguez/July-October 2007Las Raices temporary detention centre on the Spanish Canary Island of TenerifeDear Ms Hennis-Plasschaert, The common European asylum system exists on paper but not yet in reality. Its practice in member states is still very divergent – too divergent, i Feed the world. Tackle climate change. CONFERENCE Agriculture, Fertilizers and Climate Change 12 February 2009 Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, Brussels Register: www.efma.org 48% of the current global population are fed thanks to the use of mineral fertilizers. Conversely, fertilizer production and use re NEWSANALYSISVive la France! Apologies to deputies Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg and Silvana Koch-Mehrin, for the omission of their MEP comments on the French presidency in the last issue. We were inundated with responses from parliamentarians and unfortunately the two MEPs’ thoughts slipped thr The ECNIS Network of Excellence: Four yearsof progress towards the integration of European research on the causes and prevention of cancerCancer constitutes a major public health problem worldwide as well as in Europe. As described by Dr. P. Boffetta, a researcher at the International Agency of Rese NEWSANALYSISDamage limitation Luisa Morgantini tells Martha Moss that the EU needs to stand firm and hold Israel accountable for the destruction in GazaAs the people of Gaza struggle to rebuild their lives following three weeks of heavy fighting, Luisa Morgantini wants the EU to meet its responsibil GAZA | MEP DelegationEU development chief Louis Michel walks with a Palestinian family as he inspects a devastated area in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Europe responsible for “pushing Hamas back”. “When they decided to participate in the election, they decided to enter a democratic arena. And when we NEWSANALYSISA losing battleIFeleknas Uca sets out what Europe can do to ensure a sustainable ceasefire in Gazaleft for the Gaza Strip on 10 January with eight other colleagues to evaluate the humanitarian situation on the ground. We witnessed scenes of massive destruction – houses, infrastructure, s NEWSANALYSISOn the campaign trailAWith a 20-year career in the European parliament under his belt, Neil Corlett is still as fascinated as ever by the EU’s ever-growing, ever-changing institutionss unelected EU bureaucrats go, I am as guilty as the next man (or woman) of having devoted much, if not a ELECTION WATCH | Neil Corlett“I don’t expect to be elected from a place half way down the list, but the very act of participation makes me feel part of the democratic process as well as understand better what it takes to be a politician” Campaigning in a dreary shopping centre in the rain or trudgin The heart of EU politics POLITICS, POLICY AND PEOPLEwww.theparliament.com/bFor accurate, real-time, tailored political informationwww.dods.eu/monitoring 7th Framework research projectMINIMIZING ACTIVITIES AND DOSES BY ENHANCING IMAGE QUALITY IN RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL ADMINISTRATION MADEIRAOne of the biggest success stories in combating cancer is the earlier diagnosis for some cancers. Medical imaging has contributed largely to this success. This diagno NEWSANALYSISStemming the tideIf we don’t invest money, time and effort to fight cancer now, the consequences will be even more severe in the long run, warns Liz Lynne Veldeman PhotoIn 2006 I, along with two other MEPs – with considerable help from the European Cancer Patient Coalition – set up MEPs WORLD CANCER DAYLiz Lynne is a founding member of the MEPs Against Cancer groupthe council set as its minimum target are currently being completed. What is more, only 41 per cent of screenings are undertaken as part of population-based programmes, meaning that many EU citizens are still unable to ac NEWSANALYSIS“Earlier detection of cancers through screening... helps stem the cancer tide Europe faces due to its ageing population” more in prevention and screening. One in four people currently dies from cancer, even though experts tell us that around 50 per cent of all cancers are preventable – s CANCERDIP going beyond genetics in the fight against cancer D uring the onset and progression of most human tumour types, and besides the more classical genetic alterations, a growing number of epigenetic alterations have become hallmarks of cancer. In order to tackle the disease from this new angle NEWSANALYSISToday’s children, tomorrow’s world Isabel Mortara explains how educating children can help reduce the burden of cancer in adultsBeing overweight can lead to cancer later in life. On Wednesday 4 February – World Cancer Day – the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) will launch the ‘I WORLD CANCER DAYIsabel Mortara is executive director of UICC, the international union against cancer, which has more than 330 member organisations in over 100 countriesOverweight and obesity among children and adults is a major and growing problem in many EU countries, yet scarcely more than half th SPECIALREPORT SPECIALREPORT SPECIALREPORTIN THIS SECTIONLost in the supermarketFOOD LABELLING 29 Lost in the supermarket The commission’s proposal on food labelling risks confusing consumers and conflicts with the provisions of the small business act, argues Renate Sommer 33 Our daily bread Ludger F FOOD LABELLING | Rapporteur“For multilingual packages, a 3mm font size would not be workable at all” member states responsible for laying down food labelling rules for non-prepacked products, assuming that they provide for limited requirements workable for small businesses. However, this procedure c Save more than fuel Save more than fuel10 tips to use fuel effi ciently 10 tips to use fuel effi ciently1. Keep your car well serviced and check the oil level regularly. 6. Start driving soon after the engine is on and 1. Keep your car well serviced and check the oil level regularly. 6. Start drivin SPECIALREPORTOur daily breadALudger Fischer invites commission officials to experience a day in the life of a small business in the hope of re-educating them on food labels ers vary their production every day, according to season and availability. Their production is not standardised – small craft p FOOD LABELLING | ConsumersEating your wordsA A traffic light label on UK supermarket Sainsbury’s stuffed crust cheese feast pizzaA simple, colour-coded labelling system on the front of products is the easiest way to inform consumers of its nutritional value, explains BEUC’s Willemien Bax listened to SPECIALREPORTMatters of the heartA traffic light labelling system is one way to inject health into highly relevant legislation, writes Adamos AdamouThe European parliament is currently debating the commission’s proposal for a regulation on the provision of food information to consumers. A key elemen Aim High Go Low , Insulate ! Europe’s main challenges are: economic recovery, energy security and fighting climate change A crucial part of the solution is already available:low energy buildings ? Buildings account for 40% of Europe’s energy use ? A low energy building requires approximately 90% les INSIDEEUA new frontierFVincent Berrutto looks at programmes to promote low-carbon houses programme, called PEP, aims to promote the concept of passive housing across Europe. The PEP project team developed a series of tools enabling the transfer of know-how from a pool of experts to a wider community EU SUSTAINABLE ENERGY WEEKIn the energy mix Member states need national strategies if they are to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix, says Mechtild RotheEMechtild Rothe is a Socialist MEP, the president of the European forum for renewable energy sources (Eufores) and a member of parl INSIDEEU INSIDEEUEurope’s green revolution Politicians must show the public that renewable energy is vital for a sustainable economic future, argues Claude TurmesThe ink is still drying on new EU legislation to ensure that at least 20 per cent of Europe’s energy comes from renewable sources by 2020; EU SUSTAINABLE ENERGY WEEKBuilding a greener future Improving energy efficiency is key to meeting Europe’s 2020 targets on renewables, says Fiona HallNFiona Hall is an Alde MEP, the vice president of the European forum for renewable energy sources (Eufores) and a member of parliament’s committee on INSIDEEUBeyond 20-20-20 A coordinated approach is needed for Europe to meet its climate change objectives, says Luc Van den BrandeThe Committee of the Regions (CoR) is a strong supporter of the covenant of mayors and its ambitious goals to go beyond the EU’s targets for reducing greenhouse gas emiss EU SUSTAINABLE ENERGY WEEKLight relief Jan Denneman calls on EU member states to enforce measures to increase energy efficiency in lighting Traditional light bulbs are to be phased out as part of energy saving measuresT Jan Denneman is president of the European lamp companies federationhe European L ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? POLITICS, POLICY AND PEOPLE??????? ?????????????? ??????? ???? ??????? ?????????????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?????????????? Football belongs to everyone, everywhereUEFA is building thousands of mini-pitches across Europe, creating new public spaces for young people to play. With UEFA, football means solidarity. We redistribute the revenues from our competitions to all levels of the sport, amateur and professional.