Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle

Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to thank you for inviting the European Food Safety Authority to participate in this conference addressing a key public health challenge with respect to food in Europe: combating obesity. Rates of obesity and overweight in adults have increased across Europe in the last 20 years. Of great concern is that the rate of childhood obesity has increased sharply, and some studies show that 1 in 5 is now overweight. These trends show that we are clearly facing challenges in Europe with respect to diet and lifestyle.

As you know, food safety was the primary impetus for the creation of EFSA, following crises related to BSE, dioxins and other food scares requiring independent scientific advice at EU level. Whilst we must remain vigilant to risks associated with the food chain, today we must also focus our attention on major public health concerns related to diet, nutrition and lifestyle and their relationship to health.

EFSA is an independent, risk assessment organisation. I believe we are uniquely placed to contribute to the development at EU level, of scientific evidence-based policies, measures, information and communications with respect to the relation between food, diet and health. There is a substantial amount of scientific knowledge already available outlining the relation of diet and lifestyle to chronic diseases and conditions such as obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cancer and osteoporosis. Through EFSA’s work, our aim is to bring the various strands together in order to develop a state of the art European perspective in this field, thus making a significant contribution to developing scientific knowledge of the relationship between diet and health.

EFSA has to take its place as the authoritative European voice on nutrition in providing the scientific basis for activities and policies at EU level to combat this problem. This is one of my top priorities, following the recommendations of EFSA’s Management Board. But I would like to underline that this is not just my wish, nor EFSA’s wish: EU Member States, the European Commission and our stakeholders have endorsed this approach at the conference we organised in Bologna in November and expressed their hope that EFSA will play a central role in nutrition on the European stage.

EFSA has already provided scientific advice on a range of nutritional matters, since the establishment in 2003 of our scientific Panel on dietetic products, nutrition and allergies. We have delivered more than 60 scientific opinions and statements in this area, including advice related to the dietary intakes and health effects of such key nutrients as trans fatty acids and sodium. Indeed the Panel will review dietary recommendations for nutrients including sodium and trans fatty acids as part of its mandate for setting nutrient recommendations for the European Union.

The NDA Panel has also completed important work related to the setting of tolerable upper levels of intakes for vitamins and minerals, which will help the European Commission and Member States in establishing maximum levels in fortified foods and food supplements, and will thereby contribute to the implementation of the Directive on Food Supplements and the forthcoming Regulation on the addition of nutrients to foods. We have also issued advice on foods or food components which may trigger allergic reactions in susceptible individuals, which the Commission will be able to use in further developments of EU food labelling legislation.

Since the prevention of overweight, obesity and chronic diseases is a great challenge in terms of public health, EFSA needs to be even more strongly involved in scientific work on nutrition. In 2007, we will start to increase significantly the resources dedicated in EFSA to nutrition. As a reference body in Europe, EFSA will play a major role in Europe in 3 areas:

First of all, I want EFSA to assist policy makers at EU and national levels in developing policies and setting diet-related public health targets. EFSA will make an important contribution to Community action in the area of nutrition, ensuring that it is underpinned and supported by the latest and most authoritative scientific advice.

Our Nutrition Panel will set recommended intakes (the so-called Population Reference Intakes) of nutrients and certain other essential dietary components. This will lead among others to the establishment, for adults and children, of energy requirements needed to ensure healthy body weights and prevent obesity. The Nutrition Panel expects to deliver the first part of its task related to energy and macronutrients, such as fat, carbohydrates, protein and fibre by mid-2007. We will then pursue work related to recommended intakes of vitamins and minerals, and if appropriate, other essential substances with a physiological effect. This work will help Member States in setting dietary intake targets to address the most salient diet-related public health issues at national level, taking into account of varying circumstances in different EU countries: dietary patterns and intakes; food supply and composition; and importantly, cultural attitudes to food and diet. EFSA will also continue to participate actively in the European Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health.

Secondly, EFSA is in a unique position to help develop the scientific knowledge base in Europe, not least through the collection and analysis of dietary intake data from all EU countries. In January 2007, EFSA will organize with Member States the first meeting of the national food consumption database managers. This EU-wide network will enable us to set up in 2007 a European wide database, including dietary intake data for adults and children for 16 categories of food. This first work will be of great value both for all those who are dealing with nutrition in Europe and for exposure assessment.

Thirdly, EFSA will support the development of accurate and meaningful communications to the public on the relation between diet and health in order to help consumers to make healthy dietary choices. For Europeans, food and eating are associated first and foremost with taste and pleasure. Yet obesity is also mentioned spontaneously by consumers as being one of the possible problems or risks associated with food. Opinion surveys appear to demonstrate that, despite the fact that consumers are aware of the importance of healthy diet and nutrition, negative trends with regard to obesity and overweight persist. A Eurobarometer survey just published in November shows that; the majority of Europeans are generally aware of what “eating a healthy diet” means. They believe that “healthy eating” means eating a balanced and varied diet, but also eating more fruit and vegetables.

Moreover, two thirds of consumers surveyed believe it is easy to eat a healthy diet. Whilst 55% of European are satisfied with their weight, around 20% claim to have made dietary changes in the last year – mainly because they wish to lose weight and stay healthy. More than 95% of Europeans agree that obesity represents a health danger. Apart from diet, physical activity and lifestyle are of course centrally important with regard to obesity, and the same survey also makes interesting reading on that front: lack of time seems to be a barrier both to healthy eating and to getting enough physical activity.

It may be that consumers, despite being aware of a wealth of information on an issue such as this, feel that they themselves are not personally concerned by these trends or perhaps do not know how best to act on the information available. This, I believe, further underlines the need for direct, clear and effective communications to consumers. And also why EFSA needs to collaborate with EU Member States to make sure the science is translated into meaningful and relevant information. That is why, in 2007, EFSA will provide guidance to Member States on how to translate nutrient recommendations into advice regarding foods and healthy diets - the so-called “Food-Based Dietary Guidelines.”

Another important development affecting the information for consumers on foods is the new Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims. As you may know, EFSA held a Conference on Nutrition and Health Claims in Bologna, on 8-10 November, to debate and discuss issues surrounding the new Regulation, particularly EFSA’s new tasks related to scientific substantiation of claims and nutrient profiles. This Regulation will bring a significant body of new work for EFSA and we welcome the opportunity of providing sound scientific advice to underpin and support its implementation. Around 200 experts participated, including national food safety authorities, while close to 1000 people watched the final morning live on the web and over 3000 more subsequently saw it on recording. Clearly, it was recognised and confirmed as a key conference on this long awaited Regulation, and the event confirmed that all concerned want and need EFSA to take on its role as the competent authority in this field. As for the outcomes and feedback, I am glad to tell you there was a strong appreciation of the transparent approach we are taking, and we will have further opportunities to debate these issues with our stakeholders and all interested parties.

Reinforcing collaboration between EFSA and EU Member State authorities across the board is a key priority during my mandate. At our Advisory Forum meeting in Helsinki last week, members agreed an overall approach for co-operation and networking between EU Member States and EFSA and identified nutrition as a key topic for collaboration. Working together to promote coherence in communications is one of the four priority areas for co-operation.

EFSA is currently developing an overall strategy for its role in nutrition to reflect its broader role and contribution to diet-related public health challenges. While it is still too early to talk about the details, this strategy will be taken to the Management Board and subsequently put forward for public consultation – so watch this space!

To conclude, let us remind ourselves of the end results EFSA is looking to achieve through our scientific work and in taking on a broader role in nutrition. First, to continually improve, through our scientific advice, the safety and nutritional quality of the food supply. Second, to help consumers make better choices. And ultimately – and most fundamentally – to contribute to better health for Europeans.

There are high expectations among stakeholders, Member States and the general public who want to see EFSA taking on a bigger role in the field of nutrition. Member States in particular have their own discussions and issues to manage on a national level, and they look to EFSA to help guide the way forward. I am confident we can rise to the challenge.

Thank you very much for your kind attention.