Some 50 representatives from around the EU gathered on February 21 to approve and launch the new association formally. They also elected the following office-holders to the board of directors: Kai Krasemann (Germany), president; Doug Henderson (UK), vice president; Ronon Raes (Belgium), treasurer; Ramón Ray (Spain), chairman importers division; Jacques Azoulay vice-chairman; Pino Calgani (Italy), chairman exporters division; William Baljeu (Netherlands), vice-chairman; Philip Henri (France) chairman wholesale division; Rémy Van Hoytonck (Belgium) vice-chairman; Marc de Naedyer (Netherlands) chairman retailers division; Svend Kristensen (Denmark) vice-chairman.

The meeting also agreed that the European price-look-up-code working party under the chairmanship of Janine Sabino would be incorporated into EFPA as a technical committee.

The board of directors will be meet again soon to discuss the programme of work for the year. The meeting will be followed by meetings of the various divisions to carry out this work.