IFSA Warns of EU Anti-Passenger Regulations

BRUSSELS, Jan. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Flight Services Association (IFSA) issued an airline passenger regulations alert to all its global airlines and caterers serving European Union and other airports worldwide. The alert follows IFSA's recent work positively impacting preclearance regulations into the United States (U.S.) for Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, South America and the Middle East. These regulations under U.S. Customs Border Protection (CBP) will go into effect on 1 April 2018 as retail facilities and catering services take additional steps to ensure appropriate handling of plant and animal products from preclearance areas.

Throughout this process, IFSA has been in constant contact with key stakeholders to clearly outline industry challenges and develop solutions.  Members of IFSA have an inside track to information regarding the impact of new regulations, the latest airport agreements and locations targeted for expansion.

The European Union is considering additional regulations that would effectively increase costs for airline passenger food and beverages without sufficient passenger benefit. IFSA's European office in Brussels is on the ground addressing such issues specific to Europe. Its long-standing Government Affairs & Education Committee formed a European Union (EU) Task Force comprised of members representing airlines, caterers and suppliers, as well as consultants and legal counsel. The EU Task Force's contact with key stakeholders include: EU officials in the European Commission's Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), International Air Transport Association (IATA), Airlines for Europe (A4E), and FoodDrinkEurope.

IFSA represents industry positions on new food and beverage labeling regulations, food contact materials, ramp safety, regulated garbage, special meal codes, and Halal guidelines. As necessary, IFSA's Government Affairs & Education Committee collaborates with members and legal counsel to submit comments to government agencies regarding issues that will critically impact members' businesses and educates members regarding compliance. For more than five decades as the leading airline onboard and catering organization, IFSA has served as the voice for the industry with regulators and stakeholders worldwide. This has assured that the industry has a seat at the table as new regulations emerge impacting airlines, caterers, and passengers.

"As the long-standing global association focused on the advancement of the airline onboard and catering industry, IFSA has actively represented the industry before legislative and regulatory groups, providing pro-industry and passenger solutions to regulations, procedures and issues," said IFSA CEO, Joe Leader. "With more than 700 million airline meals served on a yearly basis, it is imperative that IFSA boldly speaks on behalf of all companies involved to ensure the safety, security and quality of the service within the airline catering industry."

Educational tools, such as IFSA's World Food Safety Guidelines (WFSG), authored by industry experts and members, have been adopted by airlines and caterers throughout the globe as THE comprehensive resource for exceeding global food safety standards. To address the international public health concerns of the World Health Organization (WHO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, an enhanced version five will fall in line with the recommendations from the WHO for developing standards.

Though meals served on airlines are some of the most thoroughly regulated prepared foods in the world food supply, onboard food and beverage safety continues to be a matter of utmost importance for the global in-flight industry. Thus, as the primary voice of the industry, it continues to be IFSA's duty to lead, develop and represent the global business interests of the onboard services market.

For questions or more information about IFSA, please visit ifsa.aero, or follow IFSA on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

About International Flight Services Association

The International Flight Services Association (IFSA) is a global professional association serving the needs and interests of airline and railway personnel, caterers and suppliers who provide onboard services on regularly scheduled travel routes. Under the umbrella of APEX (Airline Passenger Experience Association) serving every major airline in the world, ISFA is dedicated to the advancement of the art and science of the multi-billion dollar inflight and railway onboard service industry.

Press Contact:
Morgan K. Dukes
mdukes@ifsa.aero
+1 678-303-2993

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SOURCE International Flight Services Association (IFSA)