“I am honoured by the confidence shown in me by EHPM’s members. As Chairman, I look forward to engaging in a constructive relationship with the European Institutions and industry stakeholders. Positive dialogue can and will secure a regulatory structure for our industry that facilitates its continued growth,” Maggiar said.
He added: “Within our member associations, there is a vast wealth of expertise on the regulatory issues being tackled in Brussels such as botanicals, health claims, quality and safety. Through dedicated working groups, this expertise will be fed into the EU regulatory process. As an association, you are only as strong as your members and EHPM has very strong members. As chairman, I intend to make the best use possible of this strength.”
Maggiar has served on EHPM’s board since 2008 as both treasurer and VP and said of his coming tenure: “As Chairman, I am going to place significant emphasis on the fact that the regulation of our sector needs to facilitate SMEs not the reverse. Our sector is composed mainly of SMEs.”
“The European Parliament, Commission and national governments regularly cite SMEs as the driving force of the European Economy. For SMEs to flourish, regulatory requirements need to be digestible. It is my passionately held view that effective regulation and SME friendly regulation go hand in hand and is in the interests of both consumers and industry”
Other board members were elected:
- Mr Harald Dittmar from the German association BDIH;
- Dr Antonino Santoro from the Italian Association Federsalus
- Magdalini Selanikli from the Greek association AFIM.
EHPM is also moving offices but remaining in Brussels.