Food & Drink in the EU

LATEST NEWS

Euro-MPs opt for clearer food labelling rules — 17 March 2010, 13:21 CET

The European Parliament's Environment Committee on Tuesday approved draft legislation on clearer and more informative new food labelling rules which require new information on energy content and nutritional value.

EU doubts Yorkshire pudding initiative — 11 March 2010, 23:35 CET

Yorkshire pudding is unlikely to be granted protected designation-of-origin status by the European Union despite a campaign by Yorkshire food producers, an EU official said on Thursday.

Greens protest genetically modified potato go-ahead — 10 March 2010, 00:17 CET

Green members of the European Parliament stood en masse and held up placards Tuesday in protest against the Commission's approval of the cultivation of genetically modified potatoes.

Canadian parliamentarians to eat seal in solidarity lunch — 09 March 2010, 12:29 CET

Canadian parliamentarians are to dine on seal meat on Wednesday to show solidarity with seal hunters wrestling with a European Union ban on seal products and the loss of a key market.

Europe grants 20 million euros to African Sahel — 02 March 2010, 11:27 CET

The European Commission granted 20 million euros in aid to countries in Africa's Sahel belt, to combat malnutrition and ahead of the period between harvests in 2010, it said in a statement Monday.

Database on geographical indications protected in the European Community for wines originating in Member States and third countries — 26 February 2010, 22:31 CET

"E-Bacchus" is a database which, lists non-EU countries' geographical indications and names of origin protected in accordance with bilateral agreements on trade in wine concluded between the EU and the non-EU countries concerned, consists of the Register of designations of origin and geographical indications protected in accordance with Council Regulation 1234/2007.

British rhubarb joins champagne under EU protection — 26 February 2010, 22:34 CET

A variety of British vegetable grown in darkness and harvested by candlelight has joined French champagne and Italian Parma ham in having its name protected by the EU, officials said on Thursday.

Europe to release 0.5m tonnes of excess sugar — 27 January 2010, 23:11 CET

The European Commission has proposed the release of half a million extra tonnes of sugar for export because of "exceptional market conditions."

Italian mozzarella scandal may lead to resignation — 24 January 2010, 21:12 CET

The head of an Italian buffalo mozzarella makers' consortium, put under watch after inspectors discovered traces of cow milk in samples of the product, said Sunday he was planning to resign.

Italy uncovers buffalo mozzarella fraud — 21 January 2010, 19:42 CET

Italy has placed producers of prized buffalo-milk mozzarella under watch after inspectors discovered traces of cow milk in samples of the product, the agriculture ministry said Thursday.

European Commission DG Health and Consumers Contacts — 21 January 2010, 12:46 CET

Contacts of the European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Consumers.

Plant health: Harmful organisms — 21 January 2010, 12:46 CET

The aim of the Community plant health regime is to prevent the introduction into the community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products or their spread within the Community. In order to meet the this aim, rights and obligations are placed upon Member States to regulate the movement of plants or plant products within their territory and to regulate the introduction of plants or plant products into the Community from third countries. Obligations are placed upon third countries which want to export plants or plant products to the Community.

Trade and Imports of Animal Products - personal consignments — 21 January 2010, 12:46 CET

Personal consignments containing meat, milk or their products and brought into the EU continue to present a real threat to animal health throughout the EU. Hence pathogens could be introduced into the EU if personal consignments containing meat, milk or their products are sent by post or carried in the baggage of travellers arriving from countries outside the EU, where such pathogens may be circulating.

Novel food — 21 January 2010, 12:46 CET

Novel foods are foods and food ingredients that have not been used for human consumption to a significant degree within the Community before 15 May 1997. Regulation EC 258/97 of 27 January 1997 of the European Parliament and the Council lays out detailed rules for the authorisation of novel foods and novel food ingredients. Foods commercialised in at least one Member State before the entry into force of the Regulation on Novel Foods on 15 May 1997, are on the EU market under the "principle of mutual recognition". In order to ensure the highest level of protection of human health, novel foods must undergo a safety assessment before being placed on the EU market. Only those products considered to be safe for human consumption are authorised for marketing.

Food and Feed Labelling — 21 January 2010, 12:46 CET

In the EU rules are put in place on the labelling of foodstuffs to enable European consumers to get comprehensive information on the contents and the composition of food products. Labelling helps consumers to make an informed choice while purchasing their foodstuffs. For certain foods it is considered particularly important that the products should also be of a specific quality. In such cases legislation has been established defining specific rules on, for example, composition.

General Food Law — 21 January 2010, 12:47 CET

The aim of the General Food Law Regulation is to provide a framework to ensure a coherent approach in the development of food legislation. At the same time, it provides the general framework for those areas not covered by specific harmonised rules but where the functioning of the Internal Market is ensured by mutual recognition. It lays down definitions, principles and obligations covering all stages of food/feed production and distribution.

Transboundary movement genetically modified organisms — 14 January 2010, 12:02 CET

This EU Regulation aims to implement the provisions of the Cartagena Protocol on preventing biotechnological risks. The aim of the Protocol is to ensure an adequate level of protection for the transfer, handling and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that may have adverse effects on the environment and human health, and specifically focusing on transboundary movements (the movement of GMOs between two States with the excemption of intentional movements between parties to the Cartagena Protocol within the European Community).

Nutrition and health claims — 12 January 2010, 19:39 CET

Nutrition and health claims which encourage consumers to purchase a product, but are false, misleading or not scientifically proven are prohibited. The aim is to improve protection of consumers’ health and rights. European legislation has created a list of nutrition and health claims and the conditions for their authorisation which applies throughout the EU.

Labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs — 12 January 2010, 19:40 CET

Pre-packaged foodstuffs must comply with compulsory harmonised EU standards on labelling and advertising. The details that must appear on packaging include the name under which the product is sold, a list of ingredients and quantities, potential allergens (products which may cause allergies), the minimum durability date and conditions for keeping.

Protection of Geographical Indications and Designations of Origin — 11 January 2010, 18:05 CET

This Regulation establishes the rules for protecting designations of origin and geographical indications for agricultural products and foodstuffs intended for human consumption in the EU.

EU regulators clear hostile Kraft's Cadbury plans — 07 January 2010, 01:02 CET

European competition regulators have given clearance for Kraft Foods' hostile bid to take over British confectioners Cadbury - hours after news that only 1.5% of Cadbury shareholders had accepted the US group's approach.

Maximum pesticide limits for food products for human consumption and animal feedingstuffs — 07 January 2010, 17:02 CET

All foodstuffs intended for human or animal consumption in the EU are subject to a maximum residue level (MRL) of pesticides in their composition in order to protect animal and human health. The Regulation brings together and harmonises in one text the limits that apply to different human or animal food products and, in addition, it establishes a maximum limit applicable by default.

Is your milk chocolate the genuine article? — 23 December 2009, 23:45 CET

Milk chocolate is a favourite in the holiday season, and thanks to a new measurement method developed by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), consumers in Europe will be sure of what they are getting. This is a serious matter for a continent which accounts for up to half of the annual consumption of chocolate worldwide. The method has been accepted by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), making it an international standard.

EU gives Kraft more time on Cadbury bid — 09 December 2009, 23:15 CET

Europe's competition watchdog on Wednesday extended its probe into Kraft Foods Incorporated's hostile takeover bid for British confectionery group Cadbury after the US giant offered "remedies" to antitrust concerns.

EU honours Neapolitan 'mother of all pizzas' — 09 December 2009, 23:13 CET

Italy on Wednesday hailed the European Union's decision to award the Neapolitan pizza -- arguably the mother of all pizzas -- its coveted "traditional speciality guaranteed" (TSG) label.