Memorandum submitted by the Product Authentication
Inspectorate Ltd (PAI)
1. Product Authentication Inspectorate Ltd
(PAI) is one of the leading approved certifiers of food products,
food authenticity, labelling claims and food chain traceability
in Europe. PAI is well known in the British Food Industry and
has developed a strong reputation for its knowledge, skills and
appreciation of the issues concerning food product certification.
It is also perceived by many as the only truly independent Food
Certification Body in the UK.
2. COMPANY BACKGROUND
2.1 PAI was launched in 1997 to meet a new
need in the food industry caused by a collapse of consumer confidence
in the food chain throughout Europe and inadequate and misleading
food labelling. It provides UKAS accredited independent certification
and inspection services to the food industry.
2.2 A subsidiary Italian company was formed
at the same time to meet the needs of a similar situation in Italy,
which is the largest food-producing region in Europe.
2.3 PAI has developed with specially appointed
technical advisory panels a range of standards in the food chain,
which are accepted as leading edge in terms of quality, safety,
environment and animal welfare.
2.4 PAI holds accreditations by the United
Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) for EN 45011.
2.5 PAI is responsible for certifying a
number of food products throughout Europe. These include beers,
cheeses, vegetables, cooked meats and shellfish. PAI's business
also includes the traceability, quality and welfare of Pig Farms
and Beef Herds.
2.6 Another significant areas of PAI's work
is the assurance of all feed materials used in the production
of animal feed, whether they are primary products of processing
or by-products and regardless of their country of origin.
2.7 It counts amongst its UK clients: Stilton
Cheeses, Scottish Courage, Shepherd Neame, United Kingdom Agricultural
Supplies Trade Association (UKASTA), West Country Farmhouse Cheddar,
Meadow Valley Livestock, most major UK retailers, Diageo, British
Sugar, Genesis, Assured British Pigs.
3. COMMUNICATION
3.1 PAI welcomes the setting up of the sub-committee.
It shares the concern regarding messages about food. It considers
there is a need to simplify and at the same time improve the information
provided to the consumer.
3.2 One of the problems facing the consumer
is the multiplicity of marks coupled with a lack of information
in support of the marks. This can mislead the consumer rather
than enable a truly informed choice.
3.3 It is difficult for the consumer to
distinguish between marketing claims and independently verified
product information. Also to differentiate between the merits
of the various schemes.
3.4 The consumer would benefit from an awareness
programme relating to product marking.
3.4.1 Education would enable the market
to operate more effectively in that the choice of schemes need
not be limited other than by market forces and safety requirements.
A better informed consumer is in a position to purchase the level
of assurance desired over and above the minimum legal requirements
eg the importance of animal welfare or flavour or production methods
etc
3.4.2 The awareness programme should include
the merits for consumers of looking for independent accredited
product certification to provide confidence that the product meets
the specified standard.
4. FOOD SAFETY
4.1 Whilst considering messages about food
safety, PAI would like to draw the committee's attention to the
importance of emphasising a need for full traceability of all
animal feed materials and other food ingredients as contributors
to overall food safety.
4.1.1 The safety of the ingredients that
go into animal feed is critical to the safety of the meat related
food chain. Messages about food safety are potentially misleading
if they simply begin with food production and do not address the
integrity of the ingredients.
4.1.2 Assurances regarding food safety need
to be able to demonstrate full traceability of the raw materials,
through production and distribution and through to the supermarket
shelf.
4.1.3 The same equally applies to all ingredients
that are supplied into the food chain whether they be spices from
the Far East or soya from Brazil or rice from India or chickens
from Poland.
19 April 2004
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