BONINO MAY TAKE ON FOOD SAFETY ROLE

All European food safety issues would be concentrated in the hands of Emma Bonino, commissioner responsible for consumer affairs, under proposals expected to be announced today by European Commission president Jacques Santer in an effort to restore consumer confidence in the wake of the "mad cow" crisis. In addition, Mr Santer is expected to propose setting up an independent consumer watchdog on food safety.

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SANTER TO PROPOSE EUROPEAN FOOD SAFETY CHANGES

by Caroline Southey in Brussels

Mr Jacques Santer, president of the European Commission, is today expected to outline plans for radical changes in the way the EU copes with food safety in an effort to restore consumer confidence after the mad cow crisis.

Mr Santer's proposals follow the official release this week of an interim report from a European parliamentary committee that alleges the Commission sought to play down the threat of bovne spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in an effort to lessen its impact on the beef market.

In a speech to the committee, Mr Santer is expected to outline plans to separate responsibility in the Commission for agriculture and consumer matters. He is expected to propose making one commissioner responsible for consumer affairs and food policy. At present, food and consumer safety issues are handled by four commissioners.

The result would be to put all food safety issues in the hands of Ms Emma Bonino, commissioner responsible for consumer affairs.

Mr Santer is likely to argue that reform is necessary because of public distrust of the way the EU manages food safety, and a belief that policies protect farmers at the expense of consumers.

He is expected to propose expanding the Commission's 30-strong inspection team to establish an agency on food safety, responsible for ensuring member states act on EU laws.

It would be created by and report to the Commission rather than to the agricultural directorate.

Mr Santer will stress the need for extra cash for this, which would have to be agreed by member states and the European parliament. Calls for extra staff to boost the inspection services in the early 1990s were ignored by member states.