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 webmaster@fdf.org.uk

Alphabetical Index

A

AA: Advertising Association
AAC: Association of Cereal Starch Manufacturers in the EU
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 Countries
ACW: Advisory Committee for Wales
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.
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
AEBC: Agriculture and Environmental Biotechnology Commission
AEFD: Assembly of European Employer's Organisations in the Food and Drink Industry
AGPs: Antibiotic growth promoters
AH: Animal Health and Welfare (a sub-committee of FDF)
AHETSG: Ad Hoc Emissions Trading Steering Group
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).
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 Agro-Food Industry) (ANIA)
ANWP: Addition of Nutrients Working Party
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: Electrical Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres (Directive)
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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