European Commission (DG Agri) invites submission of posters for forthcoming conference on School Fruit Scheme
On 8 July 2008, the European Commission presented its proposal for the introduction of an EU-wide School Fruit Scheme (SFS).
In order to kick-start the linked networking activities, the Commission is now organising a major conference, bringing together experts from all Member states.
This event will take place in Brussels in December 2008. As part of this conference there will be a poster exhibition of best practice models to provide SFS project promoters and stakeholders with examples for establishing or improving a School Fruit Scheme. Interested parties are now invited to submit models as posters for this exhibition. These posters must be designed to deliver ’operational’ information in an easily understandable way. The posters will be exhibited during the conference and published on the Europa website.
Full details on how to submit best practice models can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/markets/fruitveg/sfs/events/conference/index_en.htm
The European Commission proposes School Fruit Scheme worth €90 million per year
In July 2008, the European Commission (EC) proposed to establish a European Union-wide scheme to provide free fruit and vegetables to school children.
The proposal for a School Fruit Scheme follows an undertaking made during the negotiations on the reform of the Common Market Organisation for fruit and vegetables in June 2007. Since then, the Commission has engaged in a public consultation and an in-depth impact assessment of different options.
The €90 million would pay for the purchase and distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables to schools, and this money would be matched by national funds in those Member States, which choose to make use of the programme.
The programmes would be co-financed, either on a 50/50 basis, or 75/25 in the so-called ’convergence regions’, where GDP/capita is lower. The participating Member States should furthermore set up strategies including educational and awareness-raising initiatives and the sharing of best practice.
According to Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for DG Agriculture and Rural Development the proposal shows that the Commission is ’serious about taking concrete steps to fight obesity’.
The proposal will now be sent to the Council and the European Parliament and approved the programmes will start at the beginning of the 2009/2010 school year.
EPHA believes this School Fruit Scheme is a positive steps towards a more healthier Agricultural Policy.
Agriculture Council to formally adopt School Fruit Scheme
On 19 November 2008, EU Agriculture Ministers have reached a political agreement to distribute fresh fruit and vegetables across European schools in the attempt to encourage good eating habits and curb obesity in children.
From 2009, a free distribution scheme for children aged six to ten will total €90 million of EU funding annually. This money will be matched by national and private funds in those member states which choose to make use of the programme.
"This programme will be credible and effective and have a real impact on children’s eating habits if it succeeds in inciting schoolchildren to consume at least one piece of fruit daily," said Niels Busk, rapporteur on the dossier for the European Parliament, which adopted a report approving the plan by large majority on 18 November.
MEPs from Central and Eastern Europe hailed the initiative, particularly as some new Member States experience difficulties in ensuring quality catering in schools. "In Bulgaria for instance, there is a state-subsidised programme for organising in schools, but it does not have the means to cover all needs, therefore EU assistance is most welcome," said MEP Marussya Lyubcheva (PES).
The EU ministers’ agreement did not match a more ambitious plan by MEPs worth €500 million and limited to fruits and vegetables of EU-origin. But the deal was welcomed by the European Commission, which made the proposal in July.
According to the latest statistics, an estimated 22 million children in the EU are overweight. More than five million of these are obese. This figure is expected to rise by 400,000 every year.
The World Health Organisation’s recommended daily net intake is 400 grams of fruit and vegetables per person. The majority of Europeans fail to meet this target and less than 20 percent of children under 11 do so.
"Of course, we do not pretend that the free distribution of fruit and vegetables is going to solve this problem overnight. But experts agree that a healthy diet can play a key role in reducing obesity rates, and cutting the risk of serious health problems – such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes two – in later life," said Fischer Boel recently.
On 15-16 December 2008, the Commission organised a Conference on the School Fruit Scheme.
On 18 December 2008, the Council Regulation was adopted.
For more information
Information about the Commission proposal on the website of DG Agriculture and Rural Development
Website of DG Agriculture and Rural Development
Background information
Ahead of the 2008 revision of the Common Agriculture policy, the European Commission launched a consultation on the reform of the fruit and vegetables marketin May 2006.
Subsequently EPHA issued a position on “Towards a reform of the common market organisation for the fresh and processed fruit and vegetable sectors – Consultation document for impact assessment.
EPHA recognise that the Common Market Organisation for the fresh and processed fruit and vegetable sector has a crucial role to play in ensuring that consumers have access to a wide choice of nutritious foods for a balanced diet.
EPHA is also particularly pleased that one of the aims of the reform is to “encourage better nutrition for better health among European by advocating the consumption of fruit and vegetables”.
EPHA’s response focus on the following points :
Introducing a school measure for fruit and vegetables
Redistributing agricultural support so that it favours the fruit and vegetable sector and increased consumption
Pricing
Carrying out a health impact assessment of the common market organisation
Coordinating promotion of fruit and vegetables consumption with health sector
EPHA response can be downloaded below
European Heart Network response attached
EPHA related articles
Agriculture Commissioner speaks to the AGRI Committee on CAP
Ahead of the 2008 reform of the CAP : How healthy is the current CAP ?
**UPDATED** European Commission’s Green Paper on how to promote healthy diets and physical activity
Where’s the fruit in food and beverages advertised to children ?
