Report from the 34th General Assembly

For the 34th time since 1988 over 40 coeliac societies from all over the world met in Lisbon, Portugal to discuss important questions concerning the life quality of coeliac people and the work done in each country and by the umbrella organisation AOECS. Over one hundred delegates met over three days in a sunny and hot Lisbon.

Coeliac disease is a multinational matter

AOECS is an international umbrella organisation with over 40 national coeliac societies over the world as both full and associate members. Through a democratic voting session at the Annual General Meeting, members steer and approve the work done by the organisation, as it is the General Assembly of members which has the ultimate responsibility for the decisions and actions of AOECS.

Over 100 delegates met in Lisbon in September

This year over hundred delegates met in Lisbon, where the event was elegantly hosted by the Portuguese Coeliac Society. The event counted with support from two international platinum sponsors Takeda and Dr.Schär as well as several local sponsors among them gold sponsors such as 2M Pharma Group and the certification body SGS.

A new standard will become mandatory in 2023

One topic discussed during this 34th Annual General Meeting was the launch of the AOECS Standard 3.0 which is a guideline for gluten free food producers and the food safety auditing companies which are in charge to verify production is done without risk of gluten cross contact. The AOECS Standard 3.0 becomes mandatory as of January 1st 2023.

If you wish to download the new AOECS Standard, please follow this link.

The Crossed Grain Trademark was discussed

Another important issue was how to boost food business operators appetite to use the Crossed Grain Trademark in their gluten free packaged products to guide consumers in finding safe gluten free food. The Crossed Grain Trademark, is licensed by AOECS through the different National Coeliac Societies to food brands and manufacturers.

Here you can read more about the European Licensing Scheme for gluten free prepackaged food.

Eating out for coeliacs

The secretary general, Veronica Rubio, also declared that AOECS will pursue the continued work towards developing a European Standard for the HORECA industry to be able to serve safe gluten free food at restaurants, hotels and events.

Also present at the General Assembly was the Coeliac Youth of Europe (CYE) which is the youth section of AOECS. Among several other very exciting projects the youth section is working to make life easier for coeliacs who travel through their project the Travel Net.