KEY SPEAKERS:
Ladislav Miko
Deputy Director General for Food Safety
DG SANTE, European Commission
Renate Sommer,
Member
European Parliament
Camille Perrin
Senior Food Policy Officer
BEUC – The European Consumer Organisation
Hélène Simonin
Director Food, Environment & Health,
EDA – European Dairy Association
Guilherme Serodio
Project Manager, Consumer Revolution
CoRe
Citizens of the European Union enjoy one of the highest standards of food safety in the world, yet WHO estimates that every year in the European region 23 million people fall ill due to foodborne diseases, resulting in 5000 deaths. Even in the developed world, the ingestion and handling of contaminated food cause widespread illnesses, resulting in an increased burden on public health and significant economic implications. The agri-food sector represents a lion’s share of the EU economy, providing around 44 million jobs; 7.5% of Europeans are employed in production and processing, generating 3.7% of the total value added. Balancing the needs of industry, whilst simultaneously ensuring consumer protection and encouraging sustainability, is a primary challenge in the contemporary European political climate.
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