Welcome
Welcome at the new website of the European Potato Processors' Association (EUPPA).
This association with a tradition that goes back to the 60's has decided in 2009 to provide a platform for the European pototo processors to participate in a more active way in the European decision making process.
The change of the name and statutes of the former 'Union européenne des industries de pommes de terre (UEITP)' has been the first step.
EUPPA plans to play a proactive role on a number of issues as food safety, environment and sustainability and health.
In order to realise these goals a more active collaboration with the European food processing industry association (CIAA) can be an important tool, as well as the continuous interaction with the national associations and the companies.
This website is a first step to increase the communication with all partners in this process.
The new name of EUPPA has been launched during a European Parliament event on 1 February 2010.
News
Successful EUPPA general assembly in Potsdam (Germany)
The traditional EUPPA general assembly of 2010 was hosted by the German BOGK and its president E.R. Schnetkamp in the historical Potsdam area.
This yearly EUPPA event was well attended by company's CEO's and national associations' secretaries of the most important European potato processing countries.
The meeting focused on the (non)labelling of certain additives and the contaminants dossier. Also the discussion on the future functioning of the association in the framework of national and European food industry associations was launched.
During the EUPPA/FNK conference all attention went to the sustainable consumption and production dossier, with presentations of M. Frewen (CIAA) on the European SCP round table and of E. Koudijs (KPMG) on tools to calculate the carbon foot print.
A visit of the Potsdam castle 'Sanssouci', the former summer palace of Frederick the Great, and to his tomb, which is up to now everyday covered with potatoes, concluded this successful EUPPA event.
GMO potato ‘Amflora’ cannot be used for consumption potatoes and in processed potato products for human consumption
EUPPA, the European potato processing association , has taken notice of the Commission’s decision of 2 March 2010 to authorise – under the current legislative framework decided by the Council and the European Parliament and after a double scientific safety assessment by Europe’s food safety agency EFSA – the cultivation of the GMO potato Amflora in the EU for industrial use and the use of Amflora's starch by-products as feed.
The usage of this potato variety in the individual member states will depend on the decision by the national authorities to allow the cultivation of this GM crop on their territory.
EUPPA is clarifying that the Commission’s decision to authorise the cultivation of this GMO potato variety owned by BASF, which is referring to the ‘industrial usage’ of the potato, includes the exclusive usage of this potato in the starch potato industry and this only for non food applications (e.g. paper industry).
This means in practise that this decision excludes the usage of this GMO potato variety in the production of consumption potatoes grown by EU producers, or potato products produced by EU companies processing potatoes for human consumption.
The European potato processing industry is confirming through its industry association EUPPA ,that its companies will respect this legal requirement in their production processes.
March 4, 2010
