Europe's food manufacturers are looking to the new Swedish presidency of the EU to help bolster the efficiency of the sector, by providing support in a number of key areas.

The Confederation of Food and Drink Industries of the EU (CIAA) wants the Swedish presidency, which takes over from the Czech Republic in July, to push through the adoption of the recommendations of the EU High Level Group and its accompanying roadmap of actions.

It wants the EU's Novel Food Regulation to be simplified to make its easier for companies to get products with a history of safe use elsewhere in the world approved. And it wants to see a more coherent research strategy for the agri-food industry with better funding provided under the 7th Framework programme.

The CIAA is looking for progress in harmonising food information to consumers across the EU, with the possible inclusion of additional voluntary information to consumers by manufacturers where they feel it is appropriate.

It also wants to see continual progress on environmental improvements along the food chain via the work of the Food Chain Sustainable Consumption and Production round table , of which CIAA was a founding member, with 'science based' policy decisions at their centre.