Responding to consumer concerns about food quality and fraudulent practices, the European Commission (EC) has launched a Knowledge Centre for food fraud and quality.
Made up of experts in and outside the Commission, the network will support EU policymakers and national authorities by providing access to and sharing scientific knowledge on food fraud and food quality issues.
The EC said that concerns about fraud undermine consumer confidence and damage the whole food supply chain in Europe, from farmers to retailers. It cited recent cases of food fraud in the following areas: olive oil, wine, honey, fish, dairy products, meat and poultry.
It also drew attention to unfair commercial marketing practices that consumers are exposed to, especially regarding food products with significant differences in composition offered in different markets but under a similar package.
A study published last year by the Czech Agriculture Ministry revealed some foods sold with the same packaging and under the same brand may vary from one EU country to another.
European Commissioner Tibor Navracsics, who launched the Knowledge Centre, said: “Food is one area where science can very directly and tangibly demonstrate the benefits it brings to citizens. The quality of the food we eat is important to all of us, and because food fraud is a transnational criminal activity, the EU has a clear role to play in the response.
“The launch of the Knowledge Centre for food fraud and quality is an important step. It will help protect the integrity of the EU food chain and safeguard the quality of food products, generating a clear added value for Europeans.”
As part of the initiative, the Knowledge Centre will coordinate market surveillance activities, operate an early warning system for food fraud and link information from members states and the EC, such as databases describing the composition of high value agri-food products.
It will also produce newsletters, interactive maps, databases and regular reports and will make this information publicly accessible.
European Commissioner for Justice Věra Jourová added: “The Commission takes the issue of food quality and unjustified differentiation very seriously and has already taken a number of concrete steps to tackle the issue. Providing for better scientific evidence is a crucial part of this work.
“This newly created Knowledge Centre, bringing together experts and knowledge from different locations inside and outside the European Commission, will further contribute to collecting and processing science-based evidence. Its work will also contribute to developing a common testing methodology, which in turn will help us apply and enforce food and consumer protection laws.”
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