Food & Drink in the EU

Latest news on food policies in the European Union.

Green light for cleaner EU tap water

EU Member States' ambassadors cleared the way Wednesday for final adoption of a proposal to revise the drinking water directive, ensuring that tap water across the European Union is safe to drink.

EUR 200m to promote European food products

The EU is to allocate over EUR 200 million in order to fund promotional activities for EU agri-food products, such as cheeses and wines, at home and abroad, the European Commission announced on Tuesday.

Wine market observatory

The EU's wine market observatory brings short-term analysis and greater transparency to an important sector for EU agriculture. The EU is the biggest wine producer in the world, representing 65% of global production and 70% of exports. The observatory covers all types of wine - red, white, rosé - as well as wines protected under the geographical indication schemes: protected designation of origin (PDO) and protected geographical indication (PGI).

EU-China agree deal on Geographical Indications

The EU and China signed a landmark agreement to recognise each other's protected regional products Wednesday, protecting 100 European GIs in China and 100 Chinese GIs in the EU from imitation.

Brussels sets out quotas for Atlantic, North Sea fishing

Ahead of a 16-17 December Fisheries Council meeting, the European Commission on Thursday adopted its proposal for fishing opportunities in 2020 for 72 stocks in the Atlantic and the North Sea.

EU fines Coroos, Groupe CECAB EUR 31m for canned veg cartel

The EU Commission has fined Coroos and Groupe CECAB a total of EUR 31,647,000 for breaching EU antitrust rules. Bonduelle was not fined as it revealed the existence of the cartel to the Commission.

EU food agency consults on cumulative risk of pesticides

The European Food Safety Authority, the EU's food agency, opened a public consultation Tuesday on its pilot assessments of the risks posed to humans by residues of multiple pesticides in food.

Cumulative risk of pesticides - EU food agency consultation - Q&A

EFSA is carrying out a public consultation on its pilot assessments of the risks posed to humans by residues of multiple pesticides in food.

Dual Food Quality

The European Commission published on 24 June the results of a pan-European testing campaign of food products showing that some products are identically or similarly branded while having a different composition.

EU promises 'maximum transparency' in scientific food safety studies

EU ministers gave the green light Thursday to ending secrecy around scientific studies on food safety, with requirements for transparency in scientific information to support risk assessment in the food chain.

Brussels aims for price transparency in food chain

After bans on unfair trading practices and better producer cooperation, the EU Commission made proposals Wednesday for greater transparency in the way prices are reported throughout the food chain.

InBev fined EUR 200m for breaching EU antitrust rules

The EU Commission fined Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's biggest beer brewer, some EUR 200 million Monday for breaching EU antitrust rules through its actions in hampering cross-border sales of beer.

Supervision of organic imports needs to be improved: EU auditors

While the control system for organic products in the EU has improved in recent years, action is needed on the supervision of imports as well as on product traceability, says a European Court of Auditors report.

European water quality set for EU upgrade

The EU Council adopted its position Tuesday on a proposal to revise the drinking water directive, a result of the first-ever successful European citizens' initiative, launched to ensure that water remains a public service and a public good.

Food agency must reveal glyphosate studies: EU Court

The EU's top Court annulled Thursday decisions by the EU food agency EFSA to refuse access to studies on the toxicity and carcinogenicity of the pesticide glyphosate, which the World Health Organisation has linked to cancer.

EU moves to allay public concern over food safety studies

The EU Parliament and the Council reached provisional agreement Monday night on draft rules to ensure the EU risk assessment procedure for food safety is more transparent and independent.

EU proposal on transparency and sustainability of the EU risk assessment model in the food chain

The European Parliament and the EU Council reached a provisional agreement on 11 February on a Commission proposal for a Regulation on the transparency and sustainability of the EU risk assessment in the food chain.

MEPs propose to improve EU approval procedure for pesticides

The EU Parliament put forward plans Wednesday to make the EU approval procedure of pesticides more transparent and accountable, including granting the public access to studies used in authorisation.

States agree new EU legal framework for spirit drinks

EU countries have confirmed agreement on a regulation on the definition, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks, including use in other foodstuffs and protection of geographical indications.

EU agrees new rules for spirit drinks

EU institutions reached a political agreement Tuesday on new rules for the production and labelling of spirit drinks and for the registration and protection of spirit drinks registered as geographical indications.

Legislation on Veterinary Medicinal Products (VMP) and Medicated Feed

The EU Council adopted the Regulations on the veterinary medicinal products and medicated feed on 26 November.

MEPs back plans to clean up Europe's drinking water

The European Parliament backed plans on Tuesday to improve consumers’ trust in drinking water from the tap, which is much cheaper and cleaner for the environment compared to bottled water.

Right to water

Right to water is a European citizens initiative launched to ensure that water remains a public service and a public good.

Ritual slaughter can only take place in approved abattoirs: EU Court

The European Court of Justice confirmed Tuesday that ritual slaughter without stunning may take place only in an approved slaughterhouse, in a case referred by Belgium's Flemish region.

Excise duties for alcohol

The European Commission proposed on 28 May to reshape the rules governing excise duty on alcohol within the EU, paving the way for a better business environment, reduced costs for small alcohol-producing businesses and better protection for consumer health.