Food Supplements - Easy to Take or Hard to Swallow? Food Safety Consultative Council Open Meeting January 27th, 2009 - Alexander Hotel - Fenian Street, Dublin 2
Introduction The Food Safety Consultative Council will hold an open meeting on Tuesday 27th January 2009. It will provide the opportunity for interested parties to observe the workings of the Consultative Council and also to participate in an open floor discussion at the end of the meeting. The main topic for discussion on the day is: Food Supplements Easy to Take or Hard to Swallow? The Consultative Council welcomes the views and opinions of consumers and interested parties and there will be a number of opportunities to participate in the discussions. AGENDA 09:30 Registration and Refreshments 10:00 Introduction/Welcome/Housekeeping Role of the Food Safety Consultative Council Mr Raymond Ellard, Director of Audit and Compliance, Food Safety Authority of Ireland 10:05 Minutes and Matters Arising 10:10 Introduction Ms Veronica Campbell, Chair, Food Safety Consultative Council 10:15 Challenges and Opportunites for the Natural Health Sector Dr Robert Verkerk, Executive & Scientific Director, Alliance for Natural Health (UK) on behalf of the Irish Association of Heath Stores 10:35 Challenges for Consumers and Public Health in Ireland Dr Mary Flynn, Chief Specialist Public Health Nutrition, Food Safety Authority of Ireland 10:55 The View from the European Commission Mr Basil Mathioudakis, Head of Food Law, Nutrition & Labelling Unit, European Commission 11.15 Industry Perspectives Dr Alan Ruth, Chief Executive, Irish Health Trade Association 11.35 Open Forum Discussion 12.35 Conclusions - Close of Meeting
Food Safety Consultative Council The Food Safety Consultative Council of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) acts as a forum for debate on food safety issues and provides advice to the FSAI Board on areas of relevance. The Consultative Council meets quarterly, and through the course of its meetings, examines segments of the food chain, from farm to fork, to review the food safety initiatives already in place and those required to ensure consumers interests are to the forefront. The Consultative Council is a constructive vehicle for consumers and industry to provide input to the agenda of the FSAI. The Members of The Food Safety Consultative Council are: Ms Veronica Campbell, Campbell Bewley Group (Chair) Ms Darina Allen, Ballymaloe Cookery School Dr J Gerard Barry, Teagasc, Ashtown Food Research Centre Mr Kevin Bracken, Brackens Butchers Ms Marie Brady, Former Secondary School Vice-principal Mr Eddie Byrne, Byrne Group Ms Anne-Marie Crowley, National Standards Authority of Ireland Dr Fred Davidson, Cork Public Analyst s Laboratory Mr Derek Deane, Irish Farmers Association Mr Dermott Jewell, Consumers Association of Ireland Mr Muiris Kennedy, Bord Bia Ms Fiona Lalor, University College, Dublin Ms Margaret Leahy, Organic Farmer Mr Peter Marshall, Irish Food Quality Certification Ms Sara Morris, Communications and Public Affairs Specialist Mr Martin Mullane, Dairy and Meat Industry Specialist Mr Eoin McBennett, Dairy Industry Expert Mr Tim O Brien, Franzini s Restaurant Mr Henry O Neill, Restaurants Association of Ireland Mr Bill Paterson, Consultant Ms Anne Quirke, Consumer Ms Breda Raggett, Consumer
Speakers Dr Robert Verkerk Dr Verkerk is an internationally-acclaimed expert in sustainability, with 25 years of experience particularly in the areas of agriculture and healthcare. He has a Masters Degree and Doctorate from Imperial College London, where he also worked as a Post-doctorate Research Fellow for 7 years. He has extensive international experience, having worked especially in Asia, Africa, Europe, Australasia and North and Central America. He has acted as an advisor to governments but has always maintained strong connections with the NGO sector. Dr Verkerk founded the ANH in 2002 and has been its Scientific and Executive Director ever since. Dr Mary Flynn Dr Mary Flynn, Chief Specialist in Public Health Nutrition with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, is a dietitian and a registered public health nutritionist. Mary has extensive experience in the management of nutrition programmes in public health, clinical and research settings in Ireland, Canada and the Middle East. As Chief Specialist, Dr Flynn manages and develops the public health nutrition group, and works closely with stakeholders in allied official agencies and the food industry, to ensure optimal consumer protection. Finally, in relation to her presentation today, Mary is leading out the work concerned with the new regulations on nutrition and health claims.
Speakers Mr Basil Mathioudakis Mr Basil Mathioudakis is Head of the Food Law, Nutrition and Labelling Unit, Directorate-General for Health and Consumers in the European Commission. He has a scientific background having studied first Biochemistry and then Human Nutrition at the University of London. He joined the European Commission in 1982. He has worked on food legislation for 25 years covering a variety of dossiers (dietetic foods, food supplements, nutrition labelling and addition of vitamins and minerals to foods) before taking charge of the Unit. Since 2004 he chairs the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH) - section General Food Law. As representative of the European Commission has followed work on the relevant subjects at international level (Codex Alimentarius, World Health Organisation, Food and Agriculture Organisation). He also follows closely the work of the scientific advisory bodies in the area of Nutrition in general and in particular on the subjects for which his unit is responsible. For 15 years (1982-1997) he was the secretary of the Working Group on Nutrition and Dietetic Foods of the Scientific Committee for Food of the European Commission which was the predecessor of the European Food Safety Authority. Dr Alan Ruth Dr Alan Ruth, Chief Executive Officer, Irish Health Trade Association (IHTA) has worked in the healthcare industry for over 30 years, both in Ireland and the UK. His experience embraces prescription medicines, medical devices, surgical products and consumer healthcare products. Prior to his appointment with the IHTA, Dr Ruth worked as an independent management consultant in the healthcare industry. Before this, he was Director and General Manager (Ireland) for a multi-national pharmaceutical company (Searle Pharmaceuticals). Last year, Dr Ruth was elected a Vice-President of the European Federation of Associations of Health Product Manufacturers (EHPM). Dr Ruth s qualifications include a BSc in Psychology & Physiology, a prize-winning MBA, an MA Marketing (with distinction) and a PhD in Organisational Psychology. He is a Chartered Biologist, a Member of the Institute of Biology (UK), a Member of the European Health Psychology Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Health. Dr Ruth s numerous articles have appeared in such publications as: Modern Medicine: The Irish Journal of Clinical Medicine, Irish Psychiatrist, and Irish Pharmacist.
Registration Please register by Monday, 19th January 2009. Please note that spaces are limited, so early registration is advised. First name: Surname: Job title: Organisation/Company: Address: Email address: Tel: Please return this form or email the above information to: Miriam McDonald Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Abbey Court, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1 Tel: 01 817 1341 Fax: 01 817 1241 Email: mmcdonald@fsai.ie