Tuesday, March 4, 2008
9.00 – 9.30 – Welcome and introduction at the Center for Independent Journalism
9.30 – 11.00 – Session 1: Food safety as a public health issue – international aspects
Definitions, food safety vs. food security; international and national regulations; science and risk-based safety standards, major problems and dangers of food safety in 2007 in the world and in South East Europe – presentation followed by a discussion
Speaker: Maria Kadlecikova, Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
11.15 – 13.00 – Session 2: Regulation and monitoring of food safety in Hungary
Monitoring system, food safety authorities, institutions and services in Hungary; national strategy of food safety, challenges of communicating food safety policy – presentation followed by a discussion
Speaker: Dr. Miklós Süth, secretary of state, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hungary
13.00 – 13.45 – Lunch
14.00 – 15.30 – Session 3: Food safety issues in South East Europe I – presentations and discussions based on country briefings
Speakers: participants delivered short country presentations or case studies (5-7 minutes each)
Talking points: identification of major food safety problems and challenges of covering food safety in South East Europe
15.30 – 15.45 – Coffee break
15.45 – 17.00 – Session 4: Regulation and public information about food safety – presentation to be followed by questions and answers
Talking points: food safety situation in Hungary, management of crisis situations; independent quality and safety controlling mechanisms, responsibility for public data available on food safety (MEBIH website)
Speakers: Dr. Mária Szabó Szeitz, general manager of the Hungarian Food Safety Office (MEBIH)
17:00 – 18:00 Session 5: Food safety issues in South East Europe II – presentations and discussions based on country briefings continued
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
8.30 – 16.00 – Field trip to Egerfood Regional Research Center at Eszterhazy Karoly College
Talking points: scientific research of tracking systems in food processing – coding, biosensors, new methods of analysis, info-communication on food safety issues with the public
Host: Dr. Attila Kiss, Manager, Egerfood Regional Research Center
Thursday, March 6, 2008
9.30 – 11.00 – Session 6: Food safe or food secure? – A food systems approach to the politics of food
Speaker: Matthew Hayes, Open Garden Foundation
11.00 – 11.15 – Coffee break
11.15 – 13.00 – Session 7: Conscious and informed consumers – search for credible information – presentations and discussion
Talking points: consumer rights – awareness of the society about the right to safe food and the right to access information; corporate interests of food companies vs. government regulators; media and alternative sources of information to educate the public on food safety issues (labeling, hygiene, storing and handling food), self-regulation and mediation as tools for improved consumer protection, useful websites and links
Speakers: Gábor Szép, National Association of Consumer Protection in Hungary; Katalin Újhelyi, Association of Conscious Consumer (NGO); János Pál, Clean Air Working Group (NGO)
13.00 – 14.00 – Lunch
14.00 – 16.30 – Session 8: Responsible media and reporting on food safety – roundtable discussion of journalists and media experts
Panelists:
- Coverage of the “guar-gum scandal” in Hungary, summer 2007: presentation of the case study by Péter Szirmai S., journalist, Figyelő business weekly
- Professional standards of reporting – Anna Benke, director, Progresszív magazine
- Freedom of information and food safety – Adam Földes, lawyer, Hungarian Civil Liberties Union
Friday, March 7, 2008
8.00 – 16.00 – Visit at Univer Company’s baby food plant in Kecskemet
Talking points: quality and food safety regulations, application of international safety standards, new and environment-friendly technology
Host: Gabor Palotas, director, quality management
Saturday, March 8, 2008
10.00 – 12.00 – Elaboration of recommendations, discussion of potential story ideas by individual participants
Consultant: Eva Vajda, investigative reporter
12.00 – 13.00 – Wrap-up of the study tour, evaluation at the Center for Independent Journalism