social objectives

EU countries enjoy a tradition and reputation for high quality food and feed and a high level of food safety and gastronomy. Nevertheless due to recent events/food scares, there are numerous fears relating to safety issues.

PETER should harmonise stakeholder attitudes towards traceability and provide a scientific and neutral forum for discussion.

Traceability will maintain the competitiveness of quality (e.g. quality signs labelling as e.g. Champagne, Scotch Whisky, Riojas wines, Parma ham, Greek feta, etc.); and help eliminate fraud. It should reduce and in some cases solve disputes on designation issues such as Feta Cheese. It will inevitably improve third country industry practice and meet their own and EU consumer needs for safe and quality food.

A quite contradictory situation is currently observed: while third countries, such as developing countries or USA, are complaining, in front of the WTO, against European "quality signs", a growing number of third countries producers are requesting quality signs such as Napa Valley wines. Such a request from third countries is expected to increase and can explain why several US delegations (see e.g. US-EC Biotech meeting of January 05) and scientists are currently investigating the European traceability concepts and systems.

We can also expect that the European request for imported products from non-European countries will drastically impact the behaviour of exporting producers and consequently of their local markets by elevating their needs for quality and traceability.