Who determines the direction of EC policy to the meat industry? Four key officials explain the work they do and reveal which misconceptions about the EU they would most like to challenge
Rules and regulations from Brussels are a fact of life for the UK meat industry. Whether it’s meat hygiene regulations, new animal welfare rules – such as the impending partial sow stalls ban– or environmental protection, European policies affect every part of the supply chain.
It’s no secret that this EU influence isn’t always met with enthusiasm in the UK. The controversy over new rules on desinewed meat, which have prompted howls of anger from British meat processors against EC meddling, is just one recent example of European policy making clashing with the will of the industry in the UK.
The other side of the story, however, rarely makes the headlines. While Commissioners such as Dacian Ciolos and John Dalli are well-known public figureheads, far less is known about the officials who are shaping and implementing EC policies behind the scenes of Fortress Brussels.
Who are these people whose work will determine the direction of EC policy as it relates to the meat industry now and over the coming years? How did they find their way into European politics, and what motivates them?
Here, four key officials from the EC’s directorates-general for agriculture and rural development (DG Agri) and health and the consumer (DG Sanco) explain the work they do, talk about their personal backgrounds and reveal which misconceptions about their work at the EC they would most like to challenge.
Koen Van Dyck, Belgian, head of unit at the directorate-general for health and consumers (DG Sanco)
How did you get into European politics? I trained as a veterinarian and then did a Masters degree in food hygiene. I joined the Commission in 1999 a as a veterinary inspector at the Food and Veterinary Office in Dublin, and I have been in my current role since 2009.
What does your work involve? I lead DG Sanco’s unit on food hygiene, alert systems and training. I am currently involved in a review of the hygiene package for meat inspections, covering regulations 852, 853 and 854. We’re hoping to put forward a proposal after the summer.
What motivates you? I’m a great believer in the European Union and the value that the EU can add.
What’s the biggest misconception about your work? There are often negative stories in the press about the EU, and people often don’t see the value added by the EU. The work we do on food safety, for example, is very important to the economy, but many people are unaware of this.
Denis Simonin, French, head of unit at the directorate-general for health and consumers (DG Sanco)
What’s your background? I’m a veterinarian by profession. I first got into EU politics through a job in the EC’s animal welfare unit, where I was working on animal transports.
What does your current work involve? My focus now is on animal welfare at slaughter. I work a lot on strategic issues, specifically with regards to the EU’s new Animal Welfare Strategy 2012-2015. I’m also involved in a pilot project to coordinate a network of international research institutions, which takes up a lot of my time at the moment.
What drives you? My biggest motivation is public service, and the belief that we should aim towards a society that protects the weak.
What’s the biggest misconception about your work? At the EC, we’re sometimes accused of being disconnected from reality, but I feel the Commission’s work is actually more focused and well-managed than it can sometimes be in member countries’ governments.
Joao Silva, Portugese, policy officer at the directorate-general for agriculture and rural development (DG Agri)
What’s your background? I’m an agronomist by trade. My first job within European politics was working on markets and export refunds within DG Agri.
What does your current work involve? My focus is on climate change. I’m involved in climate change projects within DG Agri, and I also work with the EC’s directorate-general for climate action (DG Clima). My biggest project at the moment is the AnimalChange project, which brings together research institutes across Europe and in third countries to look at the mitigation and adaptation options for sustainable livestock production under climate change.
What drives you? I have a real interest in policy, and I enjoy the opportunity to work on different aspects of the Common Agriculture Policy.
What’s the biggest misconception about your work? That the Commission makes proposals without enough knowledge to back them up. That’s simply not true – the work we do and the information we generate enables us to get good results. For example, through AnimalChange we were able to challenge the Livestock’s Long Shadow report by the UN FAO and have had the opportunity to do our own further research.
Laurence Bonafos, French, animal welfare evaluation officer at the directorate-general for health and consumers (DG Sanco)
How did you get into European politics? I started out as a veterinarian and then took a job as an animal welfare inspector with the Commission. I’ve been in my current role since 2007.
What does your work involve? I’m responsible for making sure EU welfare laws are implemented on farms. My remit covers cattle, pigs and broilers, but I have specific responsibilities for pig welfare. That means my current biggest project by far is the partial sow stall ban, which comes into force on 1 January 2013.
What motivates you? I want to ensure any legislation that is agreed at EU level is workable and can be applied effectively by practitioners.
What’s the biggest misconception about your work? There is sometimes a perception that the work we do does not go far enough. People do not always appreciate that the Commission can be limited in what it can do by different treaties between EU member states.
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