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Communicating food safety regulations and risk management - involvement and participation of consumers and other stakeholders

Conference Room Document proposed by the USA








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    Communicating food safety regulations and risk management: Involvement and pariticipation of consumers and other stakeholders - THE UK EXPERIENCE
    Conference Room Document submitted by the United Kingdom
    2001
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    The Food Standards Agency recognises the importance and value in involving consumers and other stakeholders effectively in the decision-making process. The involvement of key stakeholders at an early stage has helped the Agency to develop effective policies. The Agency recognises that it can be difficult for consumers to contribute effectively. The Agency has implemented a number of initiatives targeted specifically at helping consumers. In addition the Agency recognises that being open an d accessible has helped build trust in the decision-making process and helped to stimulate a wider debate on food issues.
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    Consumer information and participation in interactive communication with consumers on food safety, risks and food quality 2002
    Independent consumer organizations are essential elements in the interactive communication process with consumers on food safety, risks and food quality. Within the European Economic Area, at least, these organizations enjoy a very high degree of public or consumer confidence, as compared to other sources of information or advice. Elsewhere in Europe, with some exceptions, independent consumer organizations are of relatively recent origin but are well placed to win public confidence, give n the right support. They must be supported (and their independence protected) as an essential contribution to public discourse and decision making on food and food policy. People are often more influenced by bad news than persuaded by good news. The influence of consumer organizations can be somewhat asymmetric although the same can be said about other NGOs, the media, politicians and others. Bad news travels faster and further than good news. Nonetheless, independent consumer organization s are significant factors in forming public perceptions of food safety risks and quality. Therefore the participation of consumer organizations in policy-making is essential.
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    The participation of consumers and other stakeholders in food safety activities in China
    Country Paper proposed by China
    2002
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    The Chinese government has fully realized that to enable the consumers, food industry and other stakeholders to learn about the current situation of food safety and to participate in food safety control activities is an efficient way of strengthening national food safety control system and improving the confidence of consumers to food safety. Based on this understanding, the Chinese government has adopted various measures and ways to promote the participation of all stakeholders, especially the consumers. These may include: participation of food industry associations and representatives in food standard and regulation drafting; paying high attention by governmental agencies at different levels to the complaints from consumers and to communications with industry on the complaints; release and dissemination of food safety information through different ways; implementing education program called "Food Hygiene Law Education Week" every year since 1996; and setting up close cooperation with the consumer organization. However, we are also aware of the challenges we are facing and the problems we have. The participation of Chinese consumers in food safety control is still relatively not adequate, especially consumers in the rural areas. Most of the food industries in China are small and middle size business; there is a need to explore better ways to communicate with those small and middle size food industries. China is a big and diversified country, with significant difference s in economic development, education levels, culture background and dietary habits among different regions. There is a need to find more efficient ways in participation and risk communication.

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