3. Index
FIAB REPRESENTATION IN THE EU
Presentation Brussels Delegation
FIAB at a glance European Economic & Social Committee
STRUCTURE DIRECTORY MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS
Presidency
Goverment bodies FURTHER INFORMATION
Managing Director
Adviser to the Presidency
Food Law
Economic & International Affairs
Technical & Environment
Innovation & Technology
Competitiveness
Administration & Finances
Vocational Training
Communications
4. 3
FIAB
Presentation
The Spanish Food and Drink Industry Federation (FIAB) was created in 1977 to
represent âthrough one organization with a single voiceâ the Spanish food and
drinks industry, the foremost industrial sector of the country. At present, it encom-
passes 50 sector associations representing nearly 90% of the industryâs turnover.
Its main activity is informing the sector of developments that might affect their
performance and representing their interests before different administrations and FIAB and other organizations
decision-making bodies at national, European and international level.
FIAB was one of the leading industry associations to joined the Spanish Confedera- 1. FoodDrinkEurope
EU Confederation of the
tion of Employersâ Organizations (CEOE). Also, in order to be able to represent the
Food and Drink Industries
industryâs interests in the EU sphere, FIAB has maintained a permanent delegation
in Brussels since 1983 and he has been a full member of EU Confederation of the 2. CEOE
Food and Drink Industries (FoodDrinkEurope) since 1986. Spanish Confederation of
Employersâ Organizations
3. AENOR
Spanish Association for
Standarisation and Certification
4. ECOEMBALAJES
5. EFLA
European Food Law
Association
6. Alimentum Foundation
7. Alimentia Foundation
5. 4
FIAB at a glance
Who makes up the Federation?
FIABâs raison dâĂȘtre is the representation of its group of Spanish food and beverage industries.
All full right members participate in FIAB on equal footing, conforming to a system in which
decisions are made in consensus at first instance or by vote in exceptional situations. The sectorial
organizations associated with the Federation pass on to FIAB the position of the sector that
they represent; whereas the Multi-sectorial Association of Companies (AME) transmits the
objectives of their group of companies, all of them members of any of the associates of FIAB.
The Federation may also subscribe to collaboration agreements with other entities and organiza-
tions connected to the food and drink industry that share all or some of their objectives.
How does the FIAB management work?
The main function of FIAB is to move forward in the economic, politic and social areas in
order to have a positive influence in the future. Each sector that makes up the Federation
brings it their necessities and their concerns. FIAB analyses them and relays them to the
Public Administrations and national or international organisms in involved, defending at all
times the collective interests of the Federation.
Today, FIABâs specialization in the area of food is based on very concrete areas: food laws and
nutrition, internationalization, economic matters, technical and environmental aspects, sustai-
nability, innovation and technology, competitiveness, administration and finance, vocational
training and communication.
What does FIAB offer its members?
The added value that FIAB gives its members is the professionalism of the team that forms its
Management Committee. All in all, more than 30 professionals operate on a daily basis advising
each of the sector members. Our range of services is aimed at our direct members (the sectorial
associations) and indirect members (the companies). Our most important services include:
ïŠ Constant information on the technical regulations and legislation in force in the areas of
food law, nutrition, environment and sustainability.
ïŠ Monitoring and reviewing the above mentioned regulations with each of our associate
members, so that their necessities are covered.
ïŠ Judicial, fiscal and labour advice.
ïŠ Training, consultation and impulsion of the companies in the sector in terms of internatio-
nalization, innovation and technology. FIAB organises, coordinates and provides services
in a series of promotion activities that are conducive to the boosting competitiveness in the
food and drink sectors.
ïŠ Bolstering the visibility of the sector as a strategic force in the Spanish economy.
6. In what way does FIAB defend the interests of the industry?
In order to channel the necessities of each of our individual members as well as the general interests of the food and
beverage industry, the usual FIAB counterparts are:
ïŠ On the domestic level, the Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs; the Ministry of Health,
Social Policies and Equality; the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism; the Ministry of Science and Innovation;
through their participation in technical committees, work groups or through their partnerships with specialised or-
ganisms within government institutions such as the Spanish Food Safety and Nutrition Agency, the General Board
of Interprofessional Groups, the Board of Directors of ICEX, the Council on Internationalization, the Commercial
Distribution Observatory and the Agriculture and Food Price Observatory among others.
ïŠ On the international level, FIAB is a member of FoodDrinkEurope (FIABâs counterpart in Europe), through
which it influences in the decisions made by the executive and legislative powers of the European Parliament, the
European Commission and the Council in favour of the industry needs (lobby). FIAB also has a representative on
the European Economic and Social Committee that actively participates in their meeting and especially in affairs
concerning agriculture and food, fisheries, the environment and consumer protection.
How are FIABâs efforts relevant to civil society?
All the technical operations that occur behind the Management team that is in constant coordination with our
associates have, as its ultimate objective, to achieve the position of importance that should correspond to the food and
beverage sector in Spanish society. The improvement of traceability within the food chain, the industryâs concern over
food safety, balance of trade relationships, the sustainable environment, the promotion of a healthy lifestyle through a
balanced diet and exercise, the stimulation and promotion of R+D and internationalization are just some of the efforts
it develops with the objective of promoting competition in the industry. To summarize, FIAB works under a model
of constant improvement and endeavors to give out transparent information on all the aspects of the food industry
thereby contributing actively in civil society to the economic and social development of Spain.
Collaboration agreements with adherent entities
The Federation can sign collaboration agreements with other entities or organizations tied to the food and drink industry
who share all or some of its objectives. These agreements should include the objectives, rights, and economic obligations of
each party and be subject to a General Assembly for approval. The adherent entities have their own voice but will not have
a vote in the government organisms.
8. 7
Managing Director
In May 2010, Horacio GonzĂĄlez AlemĂĄn was appointed FIABÂŽs Managing Director. Up to that date he was Joint Secretary-
General and responsible for all international matters. Through the different positions held, GonzĂĄlez AlemĂĄn has been linked to
the Federation for over 20 years, such as managing the International Department or maintaing relationships with the different EU
institutions as consultant in EU matters for the agro-food industry at the permanent Delegation of FIAB in Brussels.
He obtained his law degree at the Universidad de Sevilla, holds several certificates on High European Studies, Foreign Trade
and Food Businesses Senior Management. Presently he is Substitute Member of the European Economic and Social Committee
and President of the EU Advisory Group on the promotion of agricultural products. He represents FIAB in differents national
organization such as ICEX or AESAN.
Horacio GonzĂĄlez AlemĂĄn
h.galeman@fiab.es
Juana Perales
Adviser to the Presidency
Secretary
j.perales@fiab.es
En 1977, when Jorge Jordana was the economic advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, he decided
to abandon the Administration to organise the Spanish Food and Drink Industry Federation, being
its Secretary General for over 33 years, until 2010. Presently he continues his job at the Federation as
Counsellor to the Presidency.
Jordana is member of numerous councils, boards and commissions of private and public entities:
ComisiĂłn Interministerial de Ciencia y TecnologĂa â CICYT (Interministerial Commission on
Science and Technology), Governing Boards of the National Technical Centres on Food Technology
and Security (CNTA), Fish Preserves (CECOPESCA) and Centro de Nuevas TecnologĂas y Procesos
Alimentarios â CENTA (Centre for New Technologies and Food Processes), INIA, IRTA, CECOC-
PTC, among others. Jorge Jordana Butticaz
j.jordana@fiab.es
He has participated, amongst others, in the creation of the University Degree on Food Science and Luisa DĂaz
Technology, Agro-food Inter-professional Organizations, Technological Sector Centres of national Secretary
scope, Scientific Competence Centres online, Net on Food Safety Alert and the Spanish Agency for l.diaz@fiab.es
Food Safety and Nutrition.
Working areas
FIAB has its work structured in eight departments that are coordinated by the Management team,
detailed below. Through these departments, the outline of activities of the Federation is centred on
the following work areas: economy, labour and fiscal aspects, food law, nutrition, trade and export
promotion, internationalization, professional training, the environment, innovation and technological
development, and communication.
9. 8
Food Law
FIAB defends the interests of the food and drinks companies and participates in all phases of the drafting process of national,
European and international (Codex) laws in this field. Likewise, it informs and advises its associates on any aspect of food law: food
production, hygiene requirements, labelling, communication with consumers, manufacturing methods, legal aspects of commerciali-
sation, quality, nutrition, etc.
Nationally, it permanently works with those in charge of the Spanish Ministries of Health and Social Policy; Environment, Rural
and Marine Affairs; Trade and Industry and participates in the Inter-Ministerial Commission of Food Regulation (CIOA),
advisory body for the drafting and interpretation of food norms. At European level it collaborates with FoodDrinkEurope. Interna-
tionally it participates in the workings of the Codex (joint organization of FAO and the WHO on food), an obliged reference in
the food world and food world trade.
Montserrat Prieto
m.prieto@fiab.es
Izaskun Yarza
Secretary
i.yarza@fiab.es
Economic and International Affairs
The Economic and International Affairs Department centers its activities, on one hand, in fostering the internationalization of Spanish
food and drink companies; and on the other, in analyzing the economic and financial situations of the principal world economies, and
the exhaustive monitoring of the Spanish economy.
In the area of internationalization, it develops and organises horizontal promotion activities: group pavilions in fairs, Gastronomic
Workshops, Seminars, Tastings; promotions at points of sale, market studies, etc., all aimed to boost the presence of Spanish food
products in the international markets. To do this, FIAB collaborates with institutions such as ICEX (the Spanish Institute for Foreign
Trade), MARM (the Spanish Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs) or the European Commission. FIAB also
supports cooperation between companies through business meetings and trade missions, to encourage contact between Spanish compa-
nies in the sector as well as with their counterparts abroad. This paves the way for agreements that allow greater internationalization for
the companies. Jaime Palafox
j.palafox@fiab.es
In the area of economic affairs, the department sees through an exhaustive monitoring and analysis of the data relative to the national
Amelia Palomar
and international economy and studies the economic impact that certain measures may have on the industry. It participates in the Deputy-Director
Economic Commission of the CEOE, as well as in other related forums. a.palomar@fiab.es
12. 11
Communications
The main responsibility of Communications Department is to ensure that the food and beverage sector has the visibility and
exposure it deserves and the position it should occupy in Spanish society, in accordance with its relevance and strategic importance.
In order to ascertain and guarantee the correct attainment of these objectives, the functions of the department can be summarized
as follows:
ïŠ Media relations Toda la actividad de la FedraciĂłn
ïŠ Corporate communications
ïŠ Social Media
disponible en la red
ïŠ Bulletins, reports and publications
Clara Pi RodrĂguez
ïŠ Internal communications blog.fiab.es
ïŠ Corporate image and visual identity
c.pi@fiab.es www.fiab.es
Graphic Communication &
Social Media
Natalia MartĂnez
n.martinez@fiab.es
General Management organization chart