Food & Drink in the EU

Latest business news about Food Safety and Food Policy in the European Union

China calls for dialogue after EU bans foods — 04 December 2008, 11:52 CET

China on Thursday stressed its commitment to safe food exports and called for dialogue with the European Union after the bloc announced an extended ban on suspect Chinese imports.

EU targets Chinese soy imports in new melamine scare — 03 December 2008, 18:33 CET

The European Union decided on Wednesday to extend restrictions on Chinese food imports after high levels of the toxic chemical melamine were found in soya products.

EU, Australia ink wine deal phasing out names like 'champagne' — 02 December 2008, 00:23 CET

The European Union and Australia signed Monday a new trade agreement that will better protect EU wine labelling and ease the certification of Australian wines entering the 27-nation bloc.

EU split over food aid plans for the poor — 30 November 2008, 14:00 CET

EU countries are divided over plans to step up food aid to their population's poorest members, with some arguing the farm budget should not be used for social policy.

WTO rejects EU appeal over banana ruling — 27 November 2008, 13:24 CET

The World Trade Organisation has rejected an appeal by the EU against a WTO condemnation of its banana import policies following a complaint by the U.S. and Ecuador.

EU School Fruit Scheme - briefing — 19 November 2008, 22:42 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about food safety policy in the European Union.

EU school children to get free fruit — 19 November 2008, 22:49 CET

School pupils throughout Europe will soon be offered free fruit every week under an EU initiative agreed Wednesday to improve children's health and tackle obesity.

EU to allow 'wonky' fruit and veg on supermarket shelves — 12 November 2008, 14:44 CET

EU Member States on Wednesday gave the green light Monday for bent cucumbers and other "wonky" fruit and vegetables to be sold in supermarkets and elsewhere, as part of a drive to cut red tape.

EU hesitates with food aid as recession looms — 11 November 2008, 18:01 CET

As a recession looms, European nations have begun dragging their feet over promises, reaffirmed on Tuesday, to help farmers in developing countries combat the world food crisis.

EU, Switzerland launch talks on freeing up agro-food trade — 04 November 2008, 18:49 CET

The European Union and Switzerland launched talks on Tuesday aimed at lifting trade barriers between them in agro-food products, the Commission said in a statement.

Chocolate is good for you? Bring it on! — 29 October 2008, 23:25 CET

One of the world's greatest sweets may soon weigh down supermarket shelves following news that dark chocolate may help keep hearts purring with perfection. Researchers in Italy have found that eating half a bar each week can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Their findings were recently published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Spanish restaurant 'anti-crisis' lunch menu for 1 euro — 27 October 2008, 23:58 CET

A restaurant in northern Spain is offering a lunch time "anti-crisis" menu for just one euro to help its customers face up to the sharp economic slowdown.

US says WTO reaffirms ruling in beef hormones row — 16 October 2008, 18:30 CET

The United States said Thursday a WTO ruling backs US sanctions against the EU in a long-running dispute over the bloc's ban on beef from hormone-treated animals.

EU squashes banana cartel — 15 October 2008, 13:03 CET

The Commission said on Wednesday that it was fining banana importers Dole and Del Monte EUR 60 million for running an illegal price-fixing cartel.

Deadly bird flu virus found at German farm: EU — 10 October 2008, 20:12 CET

German authorities were culling poultry at a farm in Germany after the discovery of a case of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, the Commission has announced.

Europeans have little appetite for Frankenfood: survey — 09 October 2008, 23:31 CET

Europeans are generally opposed to meat from cloned animals, feeling not enough is known about the long-term effects of eating it, according to an EU survey out on Thursday.

EU bans Chinese milk products for children — 29 September 2008, 18:47 CET

The EU banned all imports Saturday on Chinese milk-related products for children such as biscuits and chocolate as Beijing struggled to contain a mounting contamination scandal.

EU plans crackdown on high-risk Chinese food products — 25 September 2008, 17:48 CET

The Commission has decided on safeguard measures in the face of the tainted Chinese milk scare, including plans to ban the most risky imports like biscuits and chocolate.

EU food agency told to assess tainted Chinese milk risk — 22 September 2008, 23:39 CET

The European Commission on Monday asked the European Food Safety Authority to "urgently assess possible public health risks" of China's tainted milk scandal to consumers.

France seeks to boost EU food import controls — 23 September 2008, 00:30 CET

Europe must step up checks on food imports in the face of growing scares like that over toxic milk in China, the French agriculture minister said on Monday.

EU nations on guard against Chinese milk products — 19 September 2008, 13:32 CET

The European Commission has asked EU nations to be on the look out for any Chinese milk products entering the bloc, even though none is officially imported, amid a contaminated milk crisis in China.

Free food for Europe's poor - Commission proposal — 17 September 2008, 18:10 CET

The European Commission proposed on 17 September to improve the current food distribution programme for the most deprived persons in the European Union by increasing the budget by two thirds to around EUR 500 million from 2009 and extending the range of products which can be provided.

EU seeks to expand food aid for Europe's poor — 17 September 2008, 22:51 CET

The Commission is proposing to expand its food programme for the most deprived people by boosting the budget by two-thirds and increasing the range of products provided.

Food programme chief urges EU to be bold on farm aid — 10 September 2008, 19:17 CET

World Food Programme chief Josette Sheeran urged the European Union Wednesday to show bold leadership and unblock a billion euros in aid to help poor countries confront the global food crisis.

EU funds study of the origins of milk consumption in Europe — 09 September 2008, 00:31 CET

An EU-funded project coordinated by Uppsala University in Sweden will study the origins and significance of lactose tolerance in Europe. The project, called LECHE ('Lactase persistence and the early cultural history of Europe'), is a training network with 13 participating universities in Europe. It will receive EUR 3.3 million over four years from the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).