Statement re European Food Authority

Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
30 March 2000


EUROPEAN FOOD AUTHORITY MUST HAVE GREATER RESOURCES TO RESTORE
 PUBLIC CONFIDENCE, SAYS UNILEVER CHAIRMAN, NIALL FITZGERALD.

The proposed European Food Authority must have greater
decision-making powers and resources, than currently
envisaged, if it is to play an important role in restoring
consumer confidence in food safety, said Unilever Chairman,
Niall FitzGerald at the Centenary of the Irish Department of
Agriculture, Food and Rural Development conference in Dublin
today, Thursday 30 March 2000.

Mr FitzGerald said: 'The present food regulation situation in
Europe could hardly be worse - combining costly inputs and
ineffective outputs.  Recent controversies have damaged public
confidence in both the regulatory process, the food industry
and the authority of science. Regulations are scattered and
hard to understand, procedures are lengthy and unpredictable
and responsibilities are blurred.'

'The relationship between the European Food Authority's (EFA)
scientific findings and the political decision-making process
must be clearly established. The EFA can only act in a
coherent way when the process is transparent, predictable and
much faster than it is at present, with better communication
with stakeholders essential to build confidence.'

FitzGerald added that the proposed EFA must have a clearly
defined role in crisis management.  He said: 'In any future
European food crisis there will be a widespread expectation
that the EFA, in conjunction with the Commission and Member
States, will play an authoritative role.  If this does not
happen the credibility of the EFA will be immediately
undermined.'

Concluding Mr FitzGerald said that the cost of the EFA should
be seen as an investment to prevent the damage of future
crises, which would prove costly.  He said: 'I hope that
member states will be prepared to allocate the necessary
resources.  If not, it will be very difficult for national and
European politicians to live up to their earlier commitments
to restore public confidence in food.'


                               
Full text of Niall FitzGerald's speech available from:
Stephen Milton, Unilever Press Office 020 7822 6010 or
http://www.unilever.com