Ladislav Miko, Deputy General, DG Health and Food Safety, from the European Commission.
"There are always issues to be improved, but I also feel and sense, very strongly, with our stakeholders, that legal certainty and stability is also a very important element. Certain aspects affecting the industry need stability as a way of framework to help those in the sector continue on with their work for a longer period of time." said Ladislov.
While speaking at the Freshfel and Europatat meeting in Brussels last week, Ladislav touched on the many different issues involving food safety, starting by explaining recent changes in the restructure of the European Commission.
With the new commission and with the president's new priorities, emphasis is being made on the bigger issues and about being less involved in all of the smaller details.
"We addressed our priorities in a very comprehensive way, and made re-organisational decisions which match the new direction we would like to work in. The directorates address the main issues more clearly now; with a focus on international relations and stakeholders (this is the newest one), dealing with approval of procedures, concentrating on crisis issues and then finally, the inclusion of the (formerly seen as a separate agency FVO) which has a control function but also a policy development function." said Ladislav.
New legislation is currently in process which includes; Plant Health Legislation (which has been a work in progress for the last 3 years), a proactive approach to imports of plant and plant products, early notification pest eradication survey, prioritisation of pest survey contingency plans (focussing on the most important things at the European level). Another big change is that the agency is now able to co-finance surveys and that eradication of pests, similar to how it is in the animal health area and on top of that, if there is a decision that means a problem for a particular grower in terms to yield, that grower can now receive financial compensation which had not been possible in the past.
Freshfel General Delegate Philippe Binard asks Ladislav a question during the presentation.
"Something very important for our agency, especially in regards to food safety, is that it is important to examine which questions are the most important to ask in order to find a solution. It is impossible to find solutions when we are unsure of what the problems really are. Surprisingly enough, there are things which are obvious now, and others which will only reveal themselves over a period of time." concludes Ladislav