Monitoring and representation
The task of the IMACE Secretariat in Brussels is to gather intelligence on relevant developments stemming from or related to the European Union and other international government / non-governmental organisations.
The list of subjects that the Secretariat monitors covers both specific margarines / spreads issues (i.e. Yellow Fats Regulation) and legal / economic and technical developments that have a general impact on the margarine industry (i.e. food labelling, nutrition, biotechnology, trade and environment issues).
Coordination of industry initiatives
IMACE encourages margarine manufacturers’ efforts towards healthier products and improvement of recipes. Through sharing of best practices and Codes of Practice, the margarine sector has proved its ability to contribute positively to Europeans’ healthy eating habits. For example, trans fatty acids (TFA) levels in retail margarines have considerably decreased over the last 15 years thanks to our industry’s reformulation efforts and compliance to the IMACE Code of Practice on TFA.
Consumer education and information on fats
Together with its member associations, IMACE is acting as a European reference centre regarding information on fatty acids. It brings facts on fats into the public debate and strives to empower external stakeholders and consumers to better understand their nutritional requirements and specifically that the diet should contain a certain quantity and quality of fat.