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Guides on the Consumer policy of the EU.
Food quality labels: faster delivery, better protection, clearer information by EUbusiness — last modified 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.
Organic Wine rules - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 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.
Animal Welfare Strategy 2012-2015 - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 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.
Plant health pests and EU funding programmes to deal with them - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 16 November 2011, 17:07 CET
The European Union today earmarked 19 million euros to co-finance programmes in seven Member States aiming to combat organisms harmful to plants and to prevent them from spreading further in the Union and thus from having sever consequences on the internal market. During a meeting of the Standing Committee on Plant Health (SCPH), the Member States endorsed two Commission proposals providing the co-financing (EUR 15 and EUR 4 million respectively) of actions already undertaken in the past or planned to be executed next year.
Report documents growing importance of the EU's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed by EUbusiness — last modified 25 October 2011, 17:49 CET
The European Union's system for quick exchange of information on risks linked to food and feed - an invaluable tool especially at times of crisis - has further grown in importance during 2010, the system's annual report reveals.
"Agenda for Change" in EU development policy and EU budget support - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 13 October 2011, 15:56 CET
The EU will re-prioritise its delivery of aid to developing countries to ensure maximum impact on poverty reduction. EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs has presented the 'Agenda for Change' of EU Development policy and a new policy for EU budget support. These communications set out a more strategic EU approach to reducing poverty, including through a more targeted allocation of funding. Future EU spending should concentrate on sectors which are key for long-term and inclusive growth, target countries that are in the greatest need of external support and where aid can make a difference.
CAP Reform - the main elements by EUbusiness — last modified 12 October 2011, 14:11 CET
The Commission has today published proposals for Four basic Council regulations for the Common Agriculture Policy – i) on Direct Payments, ii) the Single Common Market Organisation (CMO), iii) Rural Development and, iv) a Horizontal Regulation for financing, managing and monitoring the CAP. In addition, there are 3 smaller regulations to address transition arrangements to the new rules. The package also contains an Explanatory Memorandum; Citizens Summary, and Annexes linked with different aspects of the Impact Assessment.
Commission Communication on the future of the CAP - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 18 November 2010, 13:45 CET
The European Commission adopted on 18 November 2010 a Communication on the future of the CAP entitled "The CAP towards 2020: Meeting the food, natural resources and territorial challenges of the future". This document marks the beginning of a consultation process which will continue until next spring and which will enable the Commission to prepare legislative proposals by summer 2011. The reformed CAP should enter into force on 1 January 2014.
Cloning - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 19 October 2010, 17:27 CET
The European Commission has announced that it will propose a temporary suspension of animal cloning for food production in the EU. The Commission also plans to suspend temporarily the use of cloned farm animals and the marketing of food from clones. All temporary measures will be reviewed after five years. The establishment of a traceability system for imports of reproductive materials for clones, such as semen and embryos of clones is also envisaged. The system will allow farmers and industry to set up database with the animals that would emerge from these reproductive materials.
Banana Accompanying Measures (BAM) - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 17 March 2010, 23:32 CET
The European Commission has adopted a €190 million support package for banana exporters from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states. This proposal was part of the historic Geneva Agreement on Trade in Bananas. The EU concluded this deal with Latin American countries and the US in December 2009 which settles 15 years banana disputes. It also cuts the tariff which the EU applies to bananas imported from Latin American countries. Today's measures aim to support ACP banana exporters to adjust to this new trading environment, taking into account each country's specific situation. The measures will focus on three goals: boosting the banana sector's competitiveness, promoting economic diversification and addressing broader social, economic and environmental impacts.
Key facts about bird flu (Avian Influenza) by EUbusiness — last modified 16 March 2010, 18:28 CET
The European Commission adopted today a decision confirming the risk areas set up by the Romanian authorities in relation to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a backyard poultry farm located in the commune of Letea, in Tulcea county, at the Danube's delta close to the Ukrainian border.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 02 March 2010, 14:11 CET
The European Commission has announced its intention to come up with a proposal by the summer to allow more choice to Member States in deciding whether to cultivate GMOs. Under the current legal framework, as decided by the Council and the European Parliament, the Commission has adopted two decisions concerning the Genetically Modified Amflora potato: the first authorises the cultivation of Amflora in the EU for industrial use, and the second relates to the use of Amflora's starch by-products as feed. The European Commission also adopted today three decisions on the placing on the market of three GM maize products for food and feed uses but not for cultivation. All five authorisations were subjected to the highest scrutiny, ensuring all concerns regarding the presence of an antibiotic resistance marker gene are fully addressed. The Decision to authorise the cultivation of Amflora is the end of a process which started in Sweden in January 2003 and is based on a considerable volume of sound science.
Maximum pesticide limits for food products for human consumption and animal feedingstuffs by Ina Dimireva — last modified 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.
Plan protection products: prohibited products by Ina Dimireva — last modified 07 January 2010, 17:02 CET
The European Union regulates the placing on the market and use of plant protection products and lists the prohibited active substances.
Markets for agricultural products: Bananas by Ina Dimireva — last modified 16 December 2009, 15:55 CET
The European Union's common organisation of the market in bananas allows the EU market to receive satisfactory supplies of quality bananas at fair prices for producers and consumers and ensure a balance between the various sources of supply.
Sixth Environment Action Programme by Ina Dimireva — last modified 16 December 2009, 00:10 CET
The EU defines the priorities and objectives of European environment policy up to 2010 and beyond and describes the measures to be taken to help implement its sustainable development strategy.
Green Paper on Agricultural Product Quality by Ina Dimireva — last modified 03 December 2009, 16:16 CET
The aim of this consultation is to ensure a strategic and regulatory framework for the protection of agricultural products and to promote their quality. In this respect, the European Commission intends to open a wide discussion on the existing instruments, on how they could be improved and on new initiatives which could be considered. Three areas are being reviewed: farming requirements and marketing standards, existing quality schemes and certification schemes.
Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets by Ina Dimireva — last modified 22 December 2009, 13:06 CET
The common organisation of agricultural markets in the European Union provides a single legal framework governing the domestic market, trade with third countries and rules regarding competition.
Animal welfare labelling: EC report launches in-depth political debate by EUbusiness — last modified 28 October 2009, 23:54 CET
The European Commission has adopted a report in which it outlines a series of options for animal welfare labelling, to facilitate an in-depth political debate with the other institutions. The overall goal of policy in this area is to make it easier for consumers to identify and choose welfare-friendly products, and thereby give an economic incentive to producers to improve the welfare of animals. The report also presents options for the possible establishment of a European Network of Reference Centres for the protection and welfare of animals. Such a network, modelled on the existing Community Reference Laboratories for animal health, could provide technical support for the development and implementation of animal welfare policies, including regarding certification and labelling. The document, based on an external study and a broad stakeholder consultation, is the Commission's response to the conclusions of the May 2007 Agriculture Council which called for a report that would allow an in-depth debate on animal welfare labelling. Although the report does not endorse any of the options outlined, it identifies those which are considered to be the most feasible today. Harmonised requirements for voluntary animal welfare claims, for example, constitute one such option to support transparent information to consumers. Another is a voluntary Community Animal Welfare Label open for all to use, provided they meet the criteria.
Special Report: Have the management instruments applied to the market in milk and milk products achieved their main objectives? by EUbusiness — last modified 15 October 2009, 15:21 CET
Milk production is of major importance in the European Union’s agricultural economy. More than one million producers supply 148 million tonnes of milk annually with an approximate value of EUR 41,000 million at the farm gate. The milk processing sector (producing mainly cheese, butter and drinking milk) employs around 400 000 people and generates a turnover of EUR 120,000 million. In this Special Report the European Court of Auditors reviews how effectively the European Commission has managed the market for milk and milk products since the introduction of milk quotas in 1984, with reference to the main objectives of EU dairy policy. The Court also highlights the most critical issues to be considered in the progressive deregulation of the milk sector, which was started in 2003.