Risk communication holds the key to sustainable agri-food

Risk communication is of utmost importance to the agri-food industry – especially when it comes to differentiating ‘hazards’ from ‘risks’. That was the key takeaway from AmCham EU’s sixth Agri-food Risk Roundtable, held on Wednesday, 8 September. This year’s edition focused on how risk assessment and management should be amplified by solid risk communication to generate sound risk perception. The roundtable brought together policy makers from both sides of the Atlantic, industry representatives, NGOs and academia to share best practices regarding different models of risk perception in the food and agriculture sector.

News
9 Sep 2021
Agriculture and food , Environment, Trade
Risk communication holds the key to sustainable agri-food

Introductory remarks from AmCham EU’s CEO, Susan Danger, Matjaž Guček, Director-General and Chief Veterinary Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Slovenia and Clay M. Hamilton, Associate Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture emphasised the important role that partnerships and common goals will play in developing effective risk communication to help unlock innovation and promote more sustainable food systems.

The discussion was divided into two panels, the first of which focused on the role of risk assessment and management in enhancing the sustainability of food systems. The second focused on sustainability considerations in the decision-making process. Both panels were moderated by Marie-Cécile Damave, Head of Innovation and International Affairs, Agridées, who navigated the exchange between the distinguished panelists that shared views on how to build trust and confidence in food systems on both sides of the Atlantic between consumers, producers, regulators and industry.

AmCham EU aims to promote sustainable production and consumption through better regulation, trade and international cooperation in line with the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy. For more on our work on the agri-food sector, read our blogpost on risk communication in the agri-food sector and check out our position paper on the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy.

Questions about the event or AmCham EU’s work on agri-food issues? Contact Nadia Allen, Senior Policy Adviser (NAL@amchameu.eu)

Related items

News
27 May 2026

The Circular Economy Act: a silver bullet for harmonisation?

On Wednesday, 27 May, AmCham EU hosted Paulina Dejmek Hack, Head of Cabinet for Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, European Commission, for a discussion on the upcoming Circular Economy Act. Moderated by Luca Ibelli (Procter & Gamble), Vice-Chair, Environment Committee, AmCham EU, the exchange explored how the Act can support Europe’s wider simplification agenda by reducing fragmentation and strengthening competitiveness. Participants also discussed the importance of a harmonised framework grounded in a clear business case, ensuring circular economy policies help companies operate effectively across the Single Market.

Environment
Read more
Read more about The Circular Economy Act: a silver bullet for harmonisation?
News
29 Apr 2026

Revision of the Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation: Following a balanced Report, trilogues must secure simplification

Today, the European Parliament adopted its Omnibus VI report, including the revision of the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation, by 540 votes to 60. The outcome supports a more streamlined framework by easing the regulatory burden on value chains that rely on chemicals and sending a positive signal of the EU’s commitment to reducing unnecessary complexity.

With the Council’s position agreed in November 2025, the Parliament’s report marks the final step before trilogues, which will conclude negotiations on the targeted revision of the CLP Regulation.

The report largely aligns with the Commission’s simplification agenda and strengthens the CLP Regulation’s overall workability, especially with regards to:

  • Transition periods, setting 18 months following classification updates and allowing digital contact information to be updated on the label in line with suppliers’ regular update cycles. This better reflects supply chain realities.

  • Advertising and distance sales requirements, appropriately excluding business-to-business settings while ensuring consumers remain protected; and

  • Label legibility requirements, with more proportionate minimum font sizes and rules on background contrast, spacing and overall layout. However, further simplification is still needed to ensure sufficient flexibility for businesses.

While the report represents a constructive step forward, trilogues should address remaining constraints and clarify language that is currently difficult to interpret, including further simplification on font sizes and advertising requirements in business-to-consumer settings. These negotiations should draw on the more proportionate approaches of the Commission and the Council.

Maintaining a strong focus on simplification will be key to further alleviating administrative burdens and strengthening the EU’s resilience and competitiveness.

Environment
Read more
Read more about Revision of the Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation: Following a balanced Report, trilogues must secure simplification
Position Paper
29 Apr 2026

Simplifying the Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation: recommendations for trilogues

On 8 July 2025, the Commission presented the Omnibus VI simplification package, reopening key legislation such as the CLP Regulation, which entered into force in December 2024. The Omnibus addresses overlaps and inconsistencies that create practical challenges and, in some cases, make compliance unworkable.


Upcoming trilogues can streamline the framework and reduce unnecessary burdens. This paper sets out targeted recommendations on the positions that can achieve meaningful simplification during the inter-institutional negotiations.

Environment
Read more
Read more about Simplifying the Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation: recommendations for trilogues