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Quality:
European farmers and food producers have a reputation for producing a diverse
range of high-quality products. Beyond the legal requirements, there are
additional aspects of product quality, which are also valued by consumers, e.g.
the use of traditional farming methods in production.

The primary efforts for the improvement of the food quality were entered into the
Agricultural Policy of the European Union. EU legislation sets strict criteria guaranteeing
the standards of all European products. Key figures on European quality policy are the
Common Organization of Markets for agricultural products, the determination of common legislative frameworks of all the EU Member States to define together the specifications, the operating framework and the inspection regime, which ensure that the specifications are common to the whole European market. Cultivation and production methods meet international and European quality and safety standards.

Food safety:
The main objective of the European Commission’s food safety policy is to ensure a high
level of protection of human health and consumer interests relating to food, taking also
into account the diversity and the effective functioning of the external market. Strict EU
rules were tightened in 2000 to ensure that European food is extremely safe.

EU’s integrated approach aims to ensure a high level of food safety, animal health and
welfare and plant health in the European Union by taking consistent measures from farm to consumption and proper surveillance. EU authorities carefully evaluate risk and always seek the best possible scientific advice before prohibit or allow any product, ingredient,additive or genetically modified organism. This dissemination of knowledge will allow consumers to evaluate the EU products, to understand why so much emphasis on food safety is given and thus to lead them buy EU products rather than products imported from other countries.

Information

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.


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