Glossary

This specially compiled glossary contains over 350 food and drink industry acronyms, abbreviations and phrases. These terms are arranged alphabetically - click on a letter in the table below to access a page of terms. If you would like to add an item to the glossary, email [email protected]

Alphabetical Index


A

AA
Advertising Association
AAC
Association of Cereal Starch Manufacturers in the EU - name changed to AAF (European Starch Industry Association)
AAF
European Starch Industry Association
ABIA
Associação Brasileira das Indústrias da Alimentação (Brazilian
Association of Agro-food Industry) (ABIA)
ABIM
Association of Bakery Ingredient Manufacturers
ACAF
Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs
ACAS
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
ACBE
Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment
ACCAC
Qualification, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales
Accreditation
(In the context of vocational qualifications) Ensuring that a qualification meets national requirements
ACFM
Association of Cereal Food Manufacturers
ACMSF
Advisory Committee on Microbiological Safety of Food
ACNFP
Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes
ACP
Advisory Committee on Pesticides OR
African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States
ADI
Acceptable Daily Intake. The amount of a food additive, expressed as mg/kg body weight that can be ingested daily over a lifetime without incurring any appreciable health risk
Advanced Hughes Procedure (enhanced cooperation)
The amendments of opinion giving committees operating under “Advanced Hughes” are given more careful consideration by the Lead Committee and are more likely to be taken through to plenary vote. In addition the Rapporteurs from the Committees will work more closely together on the drafting of their reports.
AEBC
Agriculture and Environmental Biotechnology Commission
AGPs
Antibiotic growth promoters
AHWBE
Animal Health and Welfare Board for England
ALARA
As Low As Reasonably Achievable
ALDE
In the European Parliament, Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (UK Liberal Democrats sit in this group).
AMA
Advanced Modern Apprenticeship - A work-based training framework for people aged 16-18 years old. In the food and drink industry this incorporates an NVQ in Food and Drink Manufacturing Operations
Amendment
The European Council and the European Parliament can put forward and pass amendments to Commission proposals. Amendments seek to improve on the original drafting of the Commission through deleting or adding new text. In committee an amendment can be tabled with the support of just one MEP. At plenary stage amendments need to be supported by at least 37 MEPs or have the backing of a whole political group.
AMFEP
Association of Manufacturers of Fermentation Enzyme Products
AMPM
Association of Malt Product Manufacturers
ANIA
Association Nationale des Industries Alimentaires (French National Association of Food Industries) (ANIA)
ANWP
Addition of Nutrients Working Party
AoC
Association of Colleges (AoC)
APA
Association of Public Analysts
Approved Centre
(In the context of vocational qualifications) A company or other organisation approved by the awarding body to provide an NVQ or SVQ
APS
Awards Processing System
ASA
Advertising Standards Authority
ASC
Association of Scottish Colleges
Assent (legislative decision-making procedure)
This procedure is only used when very important, large-scale decisions need to be taken at EU level. These include ratifying certain international (e.g. trade) agreements and the accession of new member states to the union. The assent procedure is similar to consultation but contains some important differences: Parliament can either accept or reject a proposal but doesn't have the power to amend it. Council must obtain Parliament's assent before decisions can be taken on areas covered by this procedure
ATEX
The ATEX directive consists of two EU directives describing what equipment and work environment is allowed in an environment with an explosive atmosphere.
ATQs
Autonomous Tariff Quotas
AVA
Automatic Vending Association
Awarding Body
(in the context of vocational qualifications) Awarding bodies award specific qualifications, approve assessment centres, manage the external verification process and award certificates to candidates. Awarding bodies work NTOs to develop NVQs and SVQs

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