The EU and candidate countries:: How to cope with food safety policies?

The Central and East-European EU-Associated Countries are facing great challenges in the New Millennium. Besides all requirements factors influencing food safety, food-borne outbreaks, food safety scandals and consumers whose perception is changing as well make us to understand the ever-growing importance of food safety and prepare ourselves by establishing food safety policies. The harmonisation of food legislation, the enforcement of legislation, better co-ordination and highly efficient food control in these countries might enhance the active participation of all those involved in the food chain. The attitude and awareness of Hungarian consumers towards food safety issues is rather similar to those in the EU. In order to protect consumers' health in the region we have to be aware of our weaknesses, fulfill requirements and strengthen our achievements. Food is as much as an essential emotional, political and public health issue as in other parts of the world. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.