ROMANIAN ASSOCIATION FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION

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ROMANIAN ASSOCIATION FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION

• FOOD SAFETY IN ROMANIA
• COSTEL STANCIU
• PRESIDENT

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• A) Discussion elements
• 1. European Food Safety Authority
• 2. Romanian Food Safety Authority
• 3. Basic Social Dimension
• B) Discussion
• 1. Consumer present place in Romania
• 2. Future place of the consumer in food policy

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• A) Discussion elements
• 1. European Food Safety Authority
• 2. Romanian Food Safety Authority
• 3. Basic Social Dimension
• B) Discussion/Debate
• 1. Consumer present place in Romania
• 2. Future place of the consumer in food policy

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European context and Legislation
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1. Formation of the European Food Safety
Authority

• 1. White Paper Jan. 2000
• 2. EU Regulation 178/2002 Jan. 2002

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Formation of the European Food Safety Authority
White Paper

• The Pillars of Food Safety
• Scientific advice
• Data collection and analysis
• Regulatory and control aspects
• Consumer information

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Formation of the European Food Safety Authority
White Paper

• 1. Food Safety Legislation
• Need for a high level of food safety
• Independent scientific advice
• Operation of rapid alert systems
• Communication and dialog with the consumers on
  food safety and health issues

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• Legislation of new legal framework from animal
  feed production through to consumers
• farm to table - stable to
  table
• Tracing of products through whole food chain
• Ability to take rapid, effective safeguard
  measures in response to health hazards

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Formation of the European Food Safety Authority
White Paper

• 2. Food Safety Controls
• Community framework for development of national
  control systems
• Consumer to have same level of protection across
  the EU

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Formation of the European Food Safety Authority
White Paper

• 3. Consumer Information
• Consumers to be satisfied of improvement in food
  safety standards through information
• Consumers to be kept informed of emerging food
  safety concerns and risks to certain groups
• Consumers have right to expect information on
  food quality and constituents that is helpful and
  clearly presented

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Formation of the European Food Safety Authority
White Paper

• Responsibilities of stakeholders in Food Safety
• Feed manufacturers, farmers and food operators
  have primary responsibility for food safety
• National Authorities monitor and enforce this
  responsibility

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Formation of the European Food Safety Authority
White Paper

• EU Commission audits and inspects National
  Authorities
• Consumer must recognise that they are responsible
  for correct storage, handling and cooking of food

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Formation of the European Food Safety Authority
White Paper

• Some specific paragraphs from White Paper
• Objectives of a European Food Authority will
  be to contribute to a high level of consumer
  health in the area of food safety, through which
  consumer confidence can be restored and
  maintained

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Formation of the European Food Safety Authority
White Paper

• In all aspects related to food safety, ..the
  consumer is a fully recognized stakeholder and
  that consumer concerns are taken into account by
• Consulting the public on all aspects of food
  safety
• Provide a framework for discussions between
  scientific experts and consumers

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Formation of the European Food Safety Authority
White Paper

• Conclusions
• Greater transparency at all levels of Food
  Safety policy is the thread running through the
  White Paper and will contribute to enhancing
  consumer confidence in EU Food Safety policy

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European Food Safety AuthorityEU Regulation
January 28th 2002

• Art. 8
• Protection of consumers interests
• EU Food law shall provide a basis for consumers
  to make informed choices in relation to food they
  consume. It shall aim at the prevention of
• Fraudulent or deceptive practices
• The adulteration of food, and
• Any other practices which may mislead the
  consumer

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Formation of the European Food Safety Authority
EU Regulation January 28th 2002

• Art 9
• Public consultation
• There shall be open and transparent
  consultation.during the preparation,
  evaluation, and revision of food law

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Formation of the European Food Safety Authority
EU Regulation January 28th 2002

• Art 10
• Public information
• ..public authorities shall take appropriate
  steps to inform the general public of the nature
  of the risk to health,

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• A) Discussion elements
• 1. European Food Safety Authority
• 2. Romanian Food Safety Authority
• 3. Basic Social Dimension
• B) Discussion
• 1. Consumer present place in Romania
• 2. Future place of the consumer in food policy

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2. Formation of the Romanian Food Safety
Authority

• A.R.S.A
• Agentia Romana pentru Siguranta Alimentului
• (31 August 2003)

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2. Formation of the Romanian Food Safety
Authority

• ARSA
• Scientific pillar
• Communication Pillar
• Central place of the consumer

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• A) Discussion elements
• 1. European Food Safety Authority
• 2. Romanian Food Safety Authority
• 3. Basic Social Dimension
• B) Discussion
• 1. Consumer present place in Romania
• 2. Future place of the consumer in food policy

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3. Basic Social Dimension
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3. Basic Social Dimension

• or
• How
• to understand
• the essential of the
• food question

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•  Food question
• is
• a basic social challenge
• everybody is individually concerned
• but
• globally the entire society, too  

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2. Basic Social Dimension

•  A Society is organised around the way to
  produce and to consume its food 
• (Platon, The Republic, Volume 2)

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What does it mean ?

•  A debate on food is more than a debate on food.
  
• It is also a debate
• on the social organisation structure
• of a Society. 

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3. Basic Social Dimension

• Historically
• Since the world is world
• Socially
• Management of the food problem
• organised
• the social life and structures
• Legally
• Regulations and rules

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3. Basic Social Dimension

• 3 basic social dimensions
• Democratic organisation
• R.I.P. Space
• Social organisation with/because of food
• F.S. Space
• Rules, Reglementations and Laws
• L.G. Space

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a. Social Dimension (Democracy)
Administrat./Mer
Politics/DM
Individuals (Citizen)
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a. Social Dimension (Democracy) R.I.P. Space

• Administration

Politics
R I P
R U L E S
R Responsability I Interactivity P
Permanency
Citizen
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b. Social Dimension (Food)F.S.Space

• Rules /Laws/
• Controls

Producers/ Distributors
 Food Social Space 
Individuals/ Consumers
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b. Social Dimension (Food)F.S.Space

• Rules /Laws/
• Controls

Producers/ Distributors
 Food Social Space 
R IP
R U L E S
Indiduals/ Consumers
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3. Characteristics

• Food social Space is not only a space of food
  consumption there is a  fundamental  food
  culture ( How a society deals with food
  question )
• Anxiety (!) is in the heart of our relation to
  the food
• First human paradox
• (Having to eat but not anything OR Having no food
  or bad food )
• Regulation/rules are firstly a management of this
  anxious paradox to re-assure the citizen
• (to give him concrete confidence)
• Crises are the result of the erosion of this
  regulation device

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4. Regulation devices

• Regulation devices as answers to the anxious
  paradox
• 2 main answers
• Risk management specific answer
• Quality management broadened answer
• 2 questions
• What is risk ? Difference between food sector
  people (citizen/consumers )
• What is quality ? (idem)

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5. New social questions (as answer)

• Global questions are
• How to reconcile different perceptions ?
• What tools to create / to implement / to use for
  ?
• Are rules sufficient ?
• Who can help / facilitate the process ?

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• A) Discussion elements
• 1. European Food Safety Authority
• 2. Romanian Food Safety Authority
• 3. Basic Social Dimension
• B) Discussion
• 1. Consumer present place in Romania
• 2. Future place of the consumer in food policy

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Discussion1 . Consumers place today - for
the food sector, - for consumer protection
association,- role of the press.
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Discussion2. Future place of the consumer in
food policy Consultation mutual
involvementbeyond divergences, lacks, challenge
prospective
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Conclusion

• Two questions
• Press/media as civil society watchers or the
  vox populi representative or ?
• 2. How to see the role of a consumer oriented
  communication ?

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There is no communication without the
intelligence of publics. (D.Wolton)