The work at EFFA is structured around three pillars that complement each other: Regulatory, Communication and Public Affairs.
EFFA closely monitors all the regulatory developments relevant to the European flavour industry. This includes Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 (EU Flavouring Regulation) and its Annex I (also known as the Union List of flavourings and source materials) as well as other related topics such as Organic or General Food Law. More information on EU legislation on flavourings here.
The FLEX is the standing expert Committee, a consultative body of the Association with representatives of both, company members and National Associations. It's focused on delivering EFFA's regulatory, safety, technical and scientific positions. Under the FLEX and depending on the need, Task Forces and working groups can be created.
Under the FLEX, a Core Group is established aiming at ensuring a smooth implementation of the strategy defined by the Executive Board and at improving the efficiency of the decision-making processes of the FLEX. Therefore, the Core Group prepares the decisions to be submitted for approval to the FLEX.
EFFA has taken the initiative of creating an EFFA Guidance Document regarding the EU Regulation on Flavourings that seeks to establish EU-wide guidance on the practical application of the Flavouring Regulation. It is intended to harmonise the interpretation of the Regulation within the EU Flavour Industry. This guidance aims to serve as a reference for operators and enforcement authorities alike.
EFFA has also elaborated Guidance Documents on other topics such as the Organic Regulation or the Production of Natural Flavourings.
The main objective of the EFFA Communication Strategy is to broaden the understanding about flavourings and the key role they have in the food and drink industry, specially in topics such as conscious diet, creativity or sustainability.
As part of developing and implementing EFFA’s external communication strategy, the association established a Communications Committee (CC) with communication experts from its members, in order to ensure a coordinated voice on flavouring topics. The CC provides the necessary support for the implementation of the EFFA Communication strategy and ensures its follow-up.
In addition, EFFA established a Communication Community, an online Community group consisting of professionals in charge of communication aspects in each of the EFFA members to keep them informed about EFFA communication projects.
The FlavourDays are a celebration of flavours. A series of events around Europe about Flavourings and their role in the future of food. Each event has a different programme, adapting itself to the priorities of the country where is taking place, but all of them have one commonality: speak up for flavours and let the public enjoy the taste of Europe.
We've had already 13 editions, from North to South, from East to West. The FlavourDay tour had three more stops in 2021 in Paris and Berlin and the Virtual FlavourDay online.
You can read here more about each edition of the FlavourDays here:
London FlavourDay / UK FlavourDay
Paris FlavourDay 2017 and 2018 and 2021
The Flavour Ambassadors is a pan-European multimedia project in which we aim to share the passion and expertise of European flavour professionals. It showcases the many facades of the flavour industry and the blend of knowledge that is needed to create flavourings.
Our Flavour Ambassadors represent different departments of variously sized companies from all over Europe, and volunteered to give insight into their activity and what drives their passion.
It's comprised of a series of videos, written interviews and podcasts with professionals from the flavour industry whose stories stress on the science, passion and creativity that goes into creating flavourings.
Since the inaugural event held in October 2018 the project also became a wonderful opportunity for European flavour industry professionals to meet, network and exchange experiences. The project itself launched in February of 2019 and will continue though 2020 with interviews being published through EFFA’s twitter, linkedin, website as well as soundcloud. You will find the video of the campaign and all the individual interviews here.
Together with Regulatory and Communications, Public Affairs is the 3rd pillar of the EFFA structure. Its main objective is the setting out, the development and execution of the EFFA Public Affairs strategy. This includes developing and maintaining relationships with stakeholders within and beyond its supply chain. You can read more about our network here.
The EFFA Public Affairs Committee (PAC) is responsible for the overall EFFA Public Affairs & Advocacy strategy and coordinates with other EFFA Committees to ensure an integrated approach. It monitors flavour-related EU policy developments, including trade policy, in the context of the food and drink legislation.
It ensures EFFA’s participation in industry committees, alliances and working groups with other stakeholders at EU level on joint positions or projects. It also maintains strong relationships with the EFFA stakeholders, e.g. EU institutions, EU Member States Representatives and other European Associations.
The PAC consists of experts of National Associations and Member Companies dealing with government/external relations.
As part of Public Affairs, EFFA is also member of the Industry4Europe Alliance. It is a coalition with currently 149 members from across all industrial sectors, committed to achieving a long-term EU industrial strategy. EFFA also participates to both the Industry4Europe Advocacy Sub-group and the Communications Sub-group.
The coalition published on November 2019 its new Joint Paper ‘A long-term strategy for Europe’s industrial future: from words to action’. Through cross-sectoral recommendations, the Industry4Europe coalition contributes to the future EU industrial strategy announced by European Commission President-Elect Ursula von der Leyen.
You can read the Joint Paper below and find our more about Industry4Europe in their website.