Agriculture in the EU

Latest Agriculture news from the European Union.

Advertisement

EU hints at insecticide ban over threat to bees — 16 January 2013, 15:48 CET

The European Commission has hinted that it could ban several insecticides, some made by German chemicals giant Bayer, after scientists found disturbing evidence of harm to bees.

Poland, France want an EU farm aid budget increase — 14 December 2012, 16:59 CET

Poland and France will join forces in a bid to increase the EU's farm aid funds, which are already the overall budget's most expensive item, their agriculture ministers said on Friday.

French 'gruyere' gets EU trademark go-ahead — 07 December 2012, 14:33 CET

French producers of "Gruyere" cheese have won recognition for their produce under an all-important regional trading name system but it will have to have holes, unlike Swiss Gruyere.

China, EU protect each others' asparagus and ham — 01 December 2012, 00:30 CET

Your "Dongshan Bai Lu Sun" asparagus for my "Prosciutto di Parma" ham: a deal between China and the European Union to protect each others' 10 famous foods came to fruition Friday.

Hundreds of tractors descend on Brussels for milk protest — 26 November 2012, 23:03 CET

Dairy farmers from several European countries converged in Brussels on Monday aboard hundreds of tractors for a two-day protest against falling milk prices in Europe.

Italian mobsters received EU farm aid: court — 23 November 2012, 18:12 CET

Italian mafiosi have been pocketing hundreds of thousands of euros from European farm funds for years thanks to a legal loophole, according to rulings from Italy's Court of Auditors.

In ex-East Germany, EU farm payments a necessary evil — 19 November 2012, 10:45 CET

On a vast farm in former communist East Germany, payments from the EU's Common Agricultural Policy are seen as a necessary evil that keep the wolf from the door but cause huge administrative headaches.

EU, US should abandon biofuels: UN rapporteur — 17 October 2012, 17:01 CET

The European Union and the United States should stop using biofuels as they are hampering food production, the UN's special rapporteur for the right to food Olivier De Schutter said on Wednesday.

EU farm subsidies: Commission proposals to increase aid transparency — 25 September 2012, 17:40 CET

The European Commission has adopted a proposal designed to apply new rules with regard to the publication of information on the beneficiaries of European agricultural funds. This legislative review has been prompted by a 2010 judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) which invalidated part of Commission Regulation (EC) 259/2008, particularly as regards the publication of information on individual beneficiaries of the agricultural funds. Today’s proposal takes into account the legal constraints inherent to the protection of personal data by setting certain limits upon the publication of individual names and by asking Member States to publish more detailed information, particularly on the type of aid and the description of the measures for which the funds have been allocated.

Food quality labels: faster delivery, better protection, clearer information — 13 September 2012, 22:50 CET

The time it takes to obtain an EU quality label for farm produce from a given geographical area, or produced in a traditional way, could be halved by a regulation endorsed by Parliament on 13 September. The new rules, agreed by EP Agriculture Committee MEPs and Council negotiators in June, would also introduce a new label for "mountain" products. Labels for island produce and farm gate sales may follow soon.

Solid forecasts for Europe cereal crop harvest — 31 August 2012, 13:54 CET

The drought experienced in some parts of the world is unlikely to impact heavily on Europe's crop harvests, the Commission said Friday in its production forecast for 2012-2013.

Ten Member States get final warning over tiny hen cages — 21 June 2012, 18:24 CET

The European Commission has issued a final warning to 10 EU nations to improve the living conditions of egg-laying hens or face court action for keeping them in cramped cages.

Twelve EU nations risk court action for cruelty to hens — 18 April 2012, 13:49 CET

Twelve of 13 EU nations warned to improve the lives of laying-hens or face legal action have failed to comply with animal welfare rules set by the European Commission, says an EU source.

'Serious' pesticide threat in former Soviet Union: UN agency — 12 April 2012, 15:48 CET

The European Union and the UN's food agency announced an agreement on Thursday to manage vast stocks of obsolete pesticides in the former Soviet Union, warning they had become a "serious threat".

Minsk halts EU livestock imports over Schmallenberg virus — 23 March 2012, 22:17 CET

Belarus said Friday it had suspended livestock imports from the EU over the spread in European farms of the Schmallenberg virus, a new disease that causes deformities in animals at birth.

EU urges Russia to lift import ban on cattle, pigs — 20 March 2012, 14:12 CET

The European Union called on Russia on Tuesday to lift a ban on imports of pigs, cattle and other live animals from the EU, saying it sent a "very bad signal" to trade partners.

Resistant food bacteria strains now common: EU study — 15 March 2012, 11:16 CET

Bacteria that cause the main food-borne infections among people in the European Union commonly show resistance to widely-used antibiotics and antimicrobials, an EU report shows.

Raw chicken bacteria on the rise in Europe: study — 08 March 2012, 13:53 CET

A type of bacteria mostly found in raw chicken meat that can cause diarrhoea and fever is on the rise in the European Union, according to a report from European food safety agencies.

Welfare of Laying Hens Directive — 06 March 2012, 16:50 CET

Council Directive 1999/74/EC, adopted in 1999, distinguishes three types of rearing systems for laying hens: enriched cages where laying hens have at least 750 cm² of cage area per hen; non enriched cage systems where hens have at least 550 cm² of cage area per hen. From 1 January 2003 onwards such cagesmay not be built anymore or utilised for the first time. By January 2012 at the latest this system must be prohibited; and non-cage systems with nests (at least one for 7 hens), adequate perches and where the stocking density does not exceed 9 laying hens per m² usable area.

DOOR: EU database of agricultural products and foods — 17 February 2012, 18:29 CET

Database of agricultural products and foods registered or awaiting possible registration as PDO (Protected Designations of Origin), PGI (Protected Geographical Indications) or TSG (Traditional Specialities Guaranteed).

EU Parliament approves disputed Morocco farm trade deal — 16 February 2012, 21:54 CET

The European Parliament on Thursday approved a controversial agricultural and fisheries trade agreement with Morocco that has angered French and Spanish farmers.

Organic Wine rules - guide — 08 February 2012, 22:55 CET

New EU rules for “organic wine” have been agreed in the Standing Committee on Organic Farming (SCOF), and will be published in the Official Journal in the coming weeks. With the new regulation, which will apply from the 2012 harvest, organic wine growers will be allowed to use the term “organic wine” on their labels. The labels must also show the EU-organic-logo and the code number of their certifier, and must respect other wine labelling rules. Although there are already rules for “wine made from organic grapes”, these do not cover wine-making practices, i.e. the whole process from grape to wine. Wine is the one remaining sector not fully covered by the EU rules on organic farming standards under Regulation 834/2007.

EU issues ultimatum to 13 nations for cruelty to hens — 26 January 2012, 13:56 CET

Brussels issued an ultimatum to 13 European nations Thursday to improve conditions for tens of millions of laying-hens held in tiny cramped cages -- or face legal action in two months.

Animal Welfare Strategy 2012-2015 - guide — 19 January 2012, 17:32 CET

The European Commission has adopted a new four-year strategy (2012-2015) that aims to further improve the welfare of animals in the European Union.

Strategy for the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2012-2015 - EC Communication — 19 January 2012, 17:14 CET

The European Commission has adopted a new four-year strategy (2012-2015) that aims to further improve the welfare of animals in the European Union.