Thank you and congratulations to all the Individual Members and Groups and everybody else, friends, families and neighbours, who pulled all the stops out to complete this survey on time. The Federation successfully completed over 1000 questionnaires, and these were sent to Brussels to meet the deadline. Parcel Force managed to delay the delivery of the parcels, after payment of almost £60 for postage. I filed a claim and full payment and the postage were refunded. Brussels have indicated they are very pleased with the questionnaires returned. Thank you, everyone involved.
Planning started two years ago but it was only at the last minute that the EC decided when they wanted the survey to be carried out. In fact, it was only after the Federation was awarded the contract that the short time scale became apparent. It was impossible for us to withdraw at that stage. I appreciate that this gave no opportunity to discuss the survey with Groups and Individual Members.
The time scale was further reduced because of changes in the survey that the representatives from all 15 States suggested to the Commission. The problems of achieving a survey which would completely satisfy all the 15 European States are probably insurmountable, and the talking could still have been going on. Despite some of the more glaring problems, the consumer delegates were satisfied that the best compromise had been agreed.
The survey was sent out via email which caused further problems and it took two days to find the appropriate decoding system. The questionnaire, which was in French, then had to be translated. Fortunately there is a computer package to do this, but it accounts for some of the more obvious spelling mistakes that crept in. The EU organisers imposed restrictions on modifying the questionnaire to ensure consistency throughout the 15 countries, consequently there was virtually no scope for change.
I understand that many of you had reservations about the actual questions and the nature of the survey. The methodology was scientifically very sound, and the questions although complex and maybe unfamiliar and different from survey’s undertaken by the Federation, were not invalid. The time scale is in fact very significant in this piece of research. It was essential to avoid the Christmas period, when people’s views of food and shopping change and are frequently very illogical. Moreover, for this to be a truly European study, the same window of time everywhere was important. Some of the questions may have seemed bizarre and some of you have written suggesting as much. An example which was highlighted was that it was silly to ask if the name should be present on the label, and that as a minimum the name would of course always be there.
Understandably, most people answered these questions in the light of current food labelling legislation. This survey was actually looking at future requirements. It should therefore, not be taken for granted that the name will be present in the future. The manufacturer’s are lobbying very hard to put the minimum of information on labels, if they could save space and exclude the generic name they may well do so if the legislation allows.
I would welcome comments directly to me so that I can include them in the feed back I have to send to Brussels. MAFF is now jumping up and down wanting to know the aims and the objectives of the study. I must emphasis to everybody, that we are not at liberty to divulge any information to third parities outside the Federation.
The study was undertaken to enhance the profile of the Federation, which it has done already. It was a positive and worthwhile piece of work we have completed. Yes there were a few spelling mistakes, and it was sometimes hard to understand, but being hard does not necessarily make it less worth while. If anybody has any negative thoughts about the survey, please let me know and not others outside the organisation.
The results should be published early in the New Year. The Federation will have access to the results, and be allowed to disseminate them as it wishes.
Well done everybody.
Stella Walsh, Hon. Sec. NfCG
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