UEITP, the Union of the European Potato Processing Industry, has elected a new steering committee.

Press release 14 June 2007

UEITP, the Union of the European Potato Processing Industry, has elected a new steering committee.

At its general assembly in Hargimont (Belgium), UEITP, the Union of the European Potato Processing Industry, has elected a new steering committee with Mr. Kees Meijer (Netherlands) and Mr. Ernst Rainer Schnetkamp (Germany) as president and first vice president.

Kees Meijer has thanked his predecessor Mr. Francis Dupont (France) for his contribution as president during the last two years to activate UEITP in order to become a true representative of the potato processing industry in Europe.

Especially the active role of the organisation within the European umbrella association CIAA (UEITP is participating in a number of working groups) and the establishment of a health & food legislation commission and environmental commission has been realised by Mr. Dupont and the new secretary general Romain Cools. Further tools to deal with possible crises or technical questions will be made available for these commissions.

During the UEITP general assembly also the item of the nutritional benefits of processed potato products in the framework of health, diet and physical activity has been discussed. Prof. B. De Meulenaer presented the first results of the UEITP literature study on processed potato products. The final result of this study will be presented in the autumn of 2007.

UEITP is preparing a proposal to set up nutrient profiles for a number of processed potato products in order to enable the use of health claims for them. These proposals will be presented in the global CIAA dossier to the EFSA for further evaluation.

During the general assembly Mr. Andreas Kadi, chairman of CIAA the labelling and nutrient profiles working group, presented the actions taken by the European food industry in this field.

Finally UEITP also discussed the outcome of a very difficult potato season 2006-2007, which has been characterised by low yields and quality problems. Nevertheless the potato industry succeeded under these difficult circumstances to maintain its commitments. However the European potato processing industry fears the impact of high cereal prices and the EU bio fuel policy on the raw material prices of potatoes in the near future.

picture of the new president K. Meijer (right) and vice president E.R. Schnetkamp (left), together with the retiring president F. Dupont (in the middle).

More information : Romain COOLS, tel. +32 9 339.12.52 and e-mail : ueitp@fvphouse.be

UEITP

European Union of the Potato Processing Industry

p/a Kerkstraat 72

B-9160 LOKEREN

tel. +32/339.12.52

e-mail : ueitp@fvphouse.be