FEFANA welcomes John Dalli as European Commissioner for Health and Consumers

After the 26 hearings of Commissioner-designates, the new European Commission was finally approved by vote of the European Parliament yesterday. The new Commission has started work and its term of office will run until October 31, 2014.

FEFANA, the EU Feed Additives and Premixtures Association, said it welcomed the new team of EU Commissioners and is particularly pleased with the appointment of Mr. John Dalli as the new Commissioner for Health and Consumers, in particular at the light of the statements he made during his public hearing at the Parliament on 14 January 2010.

FEFANA said it supports Dalli’s commitment to strongly defend the single market and to reinforce harmonized rules, which will have long term benefits for the consumers. While highlighting the importance of food safety, Dalli also insisted on the necessity to strengthen enforcement capabilities, and to assure that Member States have all the necessary means in place for effective implementation towards all domestic and importing operators on the EU market. In this respect, he pointed out that the achievability of enforcement will be in perspective when proposing a legislation, from the early assessment of it.

Mr. Dalli will be serving as Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner, managing a broad portfolio which includes new responsibilities such as pharmaceutical products and biotechnology. The shift of these policies to DG Sanco should lead to a more consistent and coherent approach to public health policy and more specifically to ensure protection of consumers throughout the European Union.

Looking forward to the new Commisison’s commitments for the sake of better enforcement of the legislation, FEFANA said it hopes this new era will bring an even stronger recognition of the major and unique contribution of the feed additive and premixture industry to animal health, sustainable animal production, and safety of animal products.