Consumer power is likely to be added to the agenda of the

intergovernmental conference in the wake of the BSE crisis, which

saw a collapse in beef consumption throughout Europe.

Consumer Affairs Commissioner Emma Bonino is working to ensure

that the EU does more to incorporate the needs and concerns of

consumers into its work.

Bonino said: "We need a legislative framework. The Maastricht

treaty does not really envisage a strong EU competence on

consumer issues. The intergovernmental conference revising the

treaty could be the opportunity to address that.

"Living is not a safe activity. But people are entitled to

reliable information in order to make their own choices. the BSE

issue has demonstrated that if you do not involve them in policy

decisions, you only allow them to react emotionally after the

event".

Bonino also suggested that meetings of scientific experts were

not enough to reassure consumers on the beef question. She has

set up an inter-service group to pool information from every

Commission department.

Having met twice, its first report will contain a list of simple

guidelines for consumer information.

"The aim is to translate scientific jargon into something people

can understand", said Bonino. "It is essential to reduce panic

levels as well as concrete health risks, and get people to feel

in control again. We have been told that milk and dairy products

are safe. Gelatins, if treated in a certain way, are safe. As we

collect this information, we will disseminate it through the

media and to consumer organisations".

According to one Commission official, the BSE incident had

dramatically highlighted the lack of a rapid-response body within

the EU capable of dealing with such emergencies.

A lack of co-ordination was apparent from the first days of the

crisis. the hasty announcement of a beef export ban by

Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler was made before the

decision had been agreed byu all commissioners.

If the interservice group established by Bonino to deal with the

beef crisis is a success, it may be adopted permanently to fulfil

the need for a rapid response.

Measures to improve the lot of the European consumer have been

praised by MEP Paul Lannoye, a member of the environment, public

health and consumer protection committee, said: "It is

hypocritical to talk about consumer hysteria. People were

suddenly faced not only with the potential nightmare of infection

but with the disgusting truth of what animals had been fed, and

of the cavalier methods used by the industry.

"You do not have to be an environmentalist to get upset about

herbivores being fed carcasses".