Early-warning system
We are receptive to the idea of giving the authority responsibility for the early-warning system. We wish to emphasise once more, however, the crucial importance of making it work better.
Such an information system constitutes an indispensable instrument to safeguard consumer protection; it is precisely for this reason that it should be operated with special care, so as to ensure that the recipients of the information do not become inured to its warnings. The current system which is operated by the Commission suffers from the fact that it is cluttered with communications containing incomplete or trivial information. The form and manner in which the communications are dispatched means that they are always received as urgent "warnings", which are often unfounded and which may, in isolated cases, cause great damage to companies.
A much clearer distinction is required between "warnings" (rapid alert notifications), i.e. occurrences which necessitate urgent information measures and counter-action "informational communications" (non-alert notifications). It is sufficient to discuss the latter in a separate information exchange process, as all the necessary measures have already been undertaken.
According to the White Paper, the European Food Authority is to "operate the early warning system" and, where appropriate, carry out further observation measures. In principle, the BLL is in favour of the rapid alert system being operated by a technically competent body which is also capable of carrying out scientific risk assessment in individual cases ("expert filter").
The Commission's proposals in the White Book regarding expansion of the rapid alert system, which to date has been limited to official objections, is to be seen in a more critical light: Companies are to be obliged to provide "notification" of internal events, i.e. "tacit recalls" will be subject to official notification. This would breach fundamental principles of individual responsibility and confidentiality for the food industry.
It is essential to focus this information system on really important instances of food safety, separating it completely from the mere forwarding of other information of a non-urgent nature.
