The fourth plenary meeting of the European Union Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health took place on 30 November 2005 in Brussels. The meeting was chaired by Robert Madelin, Director General of DG SANCO at the European Commission.
Nutrition and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
Following the chair’s introduction, the floor was given to Mr Lars Hoelgaard, Deputy Director-General of DG Agriculture, who delivered a presentation on the "CAP contribution to the European Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health".
During his presentation, Mr Hoelgaard set out the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy as set out in the EC Treaty and four additional objectives:
sustainability (economic, social and environmental)
product quality and health
rural development
cross compliance with health and environmental legislation in agricultural production
He also described the evolution of the CAP and the role of nutrition within the policy, referring to the School milk programme (as set up by EC Council Regulation 1255 of 1999) which aims to provide milk at a low price or for free to young children in schools.
This was followed by a discussion based on questions posed by members of the Platform to Mr Hoelgaard. Points of interest included how DG Agriculture and other actors could contribute to improving good nutrition and the effects of CAP reform.
The future of the Platform
In the afternoon, members of the Platform were called upon to discuss their commitments for 2006.
DG SANCO then presented the reports of each of the three working groups of the Platform (Monitoring, Informing Consumer Behaviour and Healthy Lifestyle).
They announced that 2006 would see an end to the working groups which will be replaced by work packages, addressing issues such as health in the workplace.
