Food & Drink in the EU

Latest news on food policies in the European Union.

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EFSA identifies risks to bees from neonicotinoids — 16 January 2013, 15:50 CET

EFSA scientists have identified a number of risks posed to bees by three neonicotinoid insecticides. The Authority was asked by the European Commission to assess the risks associated with the use of clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam as seed treatment or as granules, with particular regard to: their acute and chronic effects on bee colony survival and development; their effects on bee larvae and bee behaviour; and the risks posed by sub-lethal doses of the three substances. In some cases EFSA was unable to finalise the assessments due to shortcomings in the available data.

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.

French GM corn cancer researcher to detail work — 15 January 2013, 22:35 CET

A French researcher who claims a link between genetically modified corn and cancer says he will publish his work - a day after the EU, which has cleared the maize, promised to make public its own assessment.

EU releases all data on GM corn linked to cancer — 15 January 2013, 13:43 CET

The EU's food safety agency challenged its doubters on Monday, making available all the scientific information used to clear a genetically modified corn which a French researcher had linked to cancer.

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.

EU rejects French report linking GM corn to cancer — 28 November 2012, 17:26 CET

The EU's food safety agency definitively rejected Wednesday a bombshell French report linking genetically modified corn to cancer, saying it failed to meet "acceptable scientific standards."

EU finally ends shark finning — 23 November 2012, 14:01 CET

The European Parliament on Thursday called a definitive halt to shark finning, the long contested practice of fishermen slicing off fins and throwing the live body overboard to drown.

Ancient Czech cheese thrives as stinky EU delicacy — 22 November 2012, 23:56 CET

Tvaruzky, a stinky low-fat Czech curd cheese has won a coveted EU protected geographical indication (PGI), similar to Italy's venerable Parmesan or France's Roquefort cheese.

Greenpeace stages anti-GM 'toxic warning' protest — 07 November 2012, 19:35 CET

Greenpeace activists staged a mock fumigation outside EU offices Wednesday to warn off the European Commission from authorising new genetically modified (GM) crops.

MEPs put foie gras controversy back on the table — 18 October 2012, 13:39 CET

A group of Euro-MPs has joined animal rights campaigners in a bid to ban the production and sale of foie gras across the European Union to halt the "torture" of ducks and geese.

EU cuts use of food-based biofuels — 18 October 2012, 12:07 CET

The European Commission said Wednesday that it was cutting targets for the use of biofuels so as to reduce the negative impact on food production and prices.

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 says private sector is key player in development aid — 16 October 2012, 16:27 CET

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso vowed Tuesday that Europe would maintain its place as the world's top provider of development aid as he urged the private sector to do more to help.

Food safety watchdog among four slammed by EU court — 11 October 2012, 22:11 CET

The European Court of Auditors has criticised the EU agency responsible for genetically-modified foods authorisations, currently at the centre of a row over a French study linking GM corn to cancer in rats.

EU rejects French scientist report linking GM corn to cancer — 04 October 2012, 19:52 CET

The European Food Safety Authority says it cannot accept an "inadequate" report by a French scientist on a link between cancer and genetically modified corn.

EU adopts list of approved flavouring substances — 02 October 2012, 14:12 CET

Flavouring substances in food will become even safer and more transparent thanks to two pieces of legislation adopted today by the European Commission. Only those flavouring substances featuring on the approved lists will be permitted for use by the food industry. Used to alter the taste and/or odour of food, flavourings substances have a long history of safe use in a wide variety of foods, such as soft drinks, confectionery, cereals, cakes and yoghurts, and have now been evaluated at EU level. These two new pieces of legislation will clarify and harmonise the use of flavouring substances within the single market: The first Regulation1 provides for a new EU wide list of flavouring substances which can be used in food and will apply from 22 April 2013, giving time for the EU food industry to adapt to the new rules. All flavouring substances not in the list will be prohibited after a phasing out period of 18 months. The second Regulation2 concerns transitional measures for other flavourings such as flavourings made from non-food sources and will apply from 22 October 2012. The new list includes over 2,100 authorised flavouring substances. A further 400 will remain on the market until EFSA concludes its evaluation. These have been used for a long time and have already been assessed as safe by other scientific bodies.

EU seeks to clarify honey — 21 September 2012, 21:38 CET

Honey is the purest of foods which under European Commission proposals Friday should remain so once rules about pollen from genetically modified plants found in it are straightened out.

Scientist won't allow EU agency to check GM findings — 20 September 2012, 17:23 CET

The French scientist who linked Monsanto genetically-modified corn to cancer in rats on Thursday refused to let the EU's food safety watchdog, EFSA, verify his results.

France will push for GM ban if cancer threat confirmed — 20 September 2012, 18:01 CET

France will seek an immediate EU ban on imports of a genetically-modified corn made by Monsanto if a study linking it to cancer in rats is deemed credible, says Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Austria says to postpone introduction of E10 biofuel — 17 September 2012, 22:49 CET

Austria will postpone the introduction of the new E10 petrol, Environment Minister Nikolaus Berlakovich said Monday, saying his country prefers to wait for EU clarification on the use of the alternative fuel.

EU confirms change in biofuel targets — 17 September 2012, 18:42 CET

The European Commission rejected Monday charges that EU biofuel policy was contributing to soaring food prices but confirmed that it will trim its targets for their use.

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.

EU changes tack on biofuels on greenhouse gas concerns — 11 September 2012, 17:10 CET

The European Union plans to trim targets on biofuel use, once seen as a potential source of cheap alternative energy but now widely blamed for soaring food prices, according to a draft proposal.

EU court blocks 'Royal Shakespeare' drinks ... from Austria — 06 July 2012, 14:22 CET

A European court struck a blow for "Harry, England, and Saint George" Friday, denying an Austrian company the right to sell a range of drinks under the "Royal Shakespeare" label.