Food additives re-evaluated - EUbusiness Week newsletter 551

This Week's Top Stories

1. EU keeps up pressure on Italian, Greek administrations
2. States angry over cuts of nuclear, satellite projects
3. Europe sets rules for airport body scanners
4. EU sounds cry of alarm over resistance to antibiotics
5. Europe switches to self-extinguishing cigarettes
6. EU drugs watchdog warns of 'legal highs' surge

Publisher's Note

The Commission this week adopted two pieces of legislation to make use of additives in food safer and more transparent.

The regulations establish two lists. The first, on additives in food, available online, is to help consumers, the food industry and control authorities easily identify which additives are authorised in a particular foodstuff. It will apply in June 2013. The second regards additives in food ingredients, such as enzymes, flavourings and nutrients.

Meanwhile, the European Food Safety Authority must re-evaluate all additives - evaluations which often date back to the 80s, 90s or even the 70s - by 2020. We look forward to the results. If we're still around, that is.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU keeps up pressure on Italian, Greek administrations

The European Commission, whose auditors are poring over public finances in Italy and Greece, are keeping up the pressure on incoming administrations in each country.
Greece can write off EUR 52bn in unpaid taxes: EU
Portugal says EU, IMF auditors endorse debt progress

2. States angry over cuts of nuclear, satellite projects

Britain and a clutch of Member States are protesting the removal from the EU budget of a next-generation nuclear reactor and an Earth observation satellite they consider vital for Europe.
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3. Europe sets rules for airport body scanners

The Commission set rules Monday for the use of body scanners at airports, allowing travellers to choose a different screening method and barring authorities from storing someone's image.
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4. EU sounds cry of alarm over resistance to antibiotics

The EU unveiled Thursday a five-year plan to contain the risk of antimicrobial resistance, warning of a sharp rise in deaths due to bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics.
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5. Europe switches to self-extinguishing cigarettes

Come Friday, in a bid to cut down on smoking-induced fire deaths across the continent, all cigarettes sold in the EU have to be self-extinguishing.
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6. EU drugs watchdog warns of 'legal highs' surge

The rapid emergence of synthetic new drugs, often sold online as "legal highs," represents a significant challenge for policy makers in the coming decade, the European Union drugs agency said on Tuesday.
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EUROPEAN CASE LAW

Gibraltar: Europe's top court barred Britain Tuesday from enacting a corporate tax reform in its tiny territory of Gibraltar, ruling the scheme would amount to illegal state aid for offshore companies.
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Europe launches sensitive debate on family migration laws
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Eurozone: Member States can't be allowed to make decisions on the eurozone on their own, EU president Herman Van Rompuy said Thursday, insisting that solidarity means "a loss of sovereignty for all".
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EU piles pressure on defiant Syria
Germany backs two more years of food aid to Europe's poor
Cameron blames 'pointless' EU rules for killing growth
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Commission Watch

Ratings agencies: Commissioner Michel Barnier on Tuesday presented sharp new curbs on credit rating agencies but was forced to back down on a bid to protect victims of Europe's debt crisis from agency scrutiny.
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Serbia-Kosovo talks may tackle fractious border post issue
EU commits to Libya as Ashton opens Tripoli mission
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Euro-Parliament Watch

CDS: Parliament has voted to ban "naked" credit default swaps, a controversial financial instrument used by traders to bet on the risk of a country failing to pay off debt.
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Euro-MPs urge firms to stop selling Iran censorship tools
Parliament urges release of Egyptian blogger
EP presses US on 'legitimate' Palestinian UN bid
In plenary this week, MEPs called for action on illegal fishing; approves EUR 40m for an integrated maritime policy; and said the internet should remain open and neutral.
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EU diary

24 Nov, Transport, Telecommunications & Energy Council
28 Nov, EU-US summit
28-29 Nov, Education, Youth, Culture & Sport Council
29 Nov, Eurogroup
30 Nov, Economic & Financial Affairs Council
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary

RESOURCES

EU Law Firms
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EU Decision-Making
Treaties of the European Union
Key EU Legal Terms

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