EU Head of Food Legislation to Take Centre Stage at Vitafoods International 2009

A nutritionist, by education, Mr Mathioudakis has spent more than 20 years specialising in food supplements, food fortification, nutrition and health claims, foods for particular nutritional uses and nutrition labelling.

15/04/09 Basil Mathioudakis, Head of the Unit on Food Law, Nutrition and Labelling of the Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection in the European Commission, will be among the panelists at this year’s Vitafoods Discussion Forum on Thursday 7 May 2009 (09.00 – 10.30).

A nutritionist, by education, Mr Mathioudakis has spent more than 20 years specialising in food supplements, food fortification, nutrition and health claims, foods for particular nutritional uses and nutrition labelling. And with the evolution of the claims Regulation causing widespread interest among manufacturers, the views of Mr Mathioudakis on this issue will surely provoke great debate.

Simon Pettman, Director of international food and nutrition policy consultancy EAS, will host the annual free Vitafoods Discussion Forum. Commenting on the panel for this year’s event, he said: “It is an extremely timely opportunity for visitors that Mr Mathioudakis will be involved in this year’s Discussion Forum. His experience lies in his unrivalled understanding of EU food law, and with the recent Claims Regulation very much at the top of every manufacturer’s agenda, now is a unique time to hear from one of the world’s leading experts on the matter.”

The Vitafoods Discussion Forum 2009 will build on the format and success of last year. Three influential figures from the world of government and business will be interviewed on the very latest hot topics taking the industry by storm. With the coming year promising to be of enormous significance for the food, supplement and ingredients sector, and the European Union looking likely to make determinations on a number of issues which will literally define the future direction of business and, in some cases, the future of businesses themselves, the debate is not one to be missed.

Joining Basil Mathioudakis will be Peter Van Doorn, Chairman of the European Federation of Associations of Health Products Manufacturers (EHPM). Mr Van Doorn will discuss the sector’s key hopes and fears for regulatory developments underway in the EU. A trade association representing more than 2000 health product manufacturers in 21 European countries, EHPM has significantly invested in the work on maximum levels of vitamins and minerals and claims.

Finally, Eduardo Escobedo from UNCTAD has been working for many years towards ensuring that there is a possibility for ingredients from developing countries to access the European Union market without going through the full novel foods process. He will focus on the results so far and the potential for companies both within and outside the EU will be the focus of discussion. The floor will then be opened for an interactive discussion, giving the audience the opportunity to put their questions to the expert panel.