Food & Drink in the EU

Latest news on food policies in the European Union.

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.

Commission tables update to rules on excise duties

An update of rules governing excise duty on alcohol within the EU, proposed Friday by the Commission, would reduce costs for small alcohol-producing businesses and better protect consumer health.

Kitkat protected status in doubt in EU Court's opinion

The future of the three-dimensional shape of Nestle's ‘Kit Kat 4 fingers’ chocolate as an EU trade mark is in doubt following Thursday's opinion of the Advocate-General of the European Court of Justice.

Green light for new EU rules on organic food

Euro-MPs gave the green light Thursday to a new law on organic food production and labelling, with a view to boosting organic production and ensuring that only high-quality organic food is sold in the EU.

Food safety: EU acts to make food studies more reliable

Responding to public concern in the form of a 'European Citizens' Initiative', the EU Commission presented Wednesday a proposal to improve the transparency of scientific studies in the area of food safety.

Brussels looks to clamp down on unfair food trading practices

The EU Commission put forward proposals Thursday to ban the most damaging unfair trade practices in the food supply chain, with a view to ensuring fairer treat­ment for smaller food and farming businesses.

Food supply chain: EU targets unfair trading practices

The Commission is targeting the most damaging unfair trade practices to grant farmers and small and medium sized businesses greater certainty and less need to manage risks over which they have little or no control.

Knowledge Centre for Food Fraud and Quality

The European Commission launched on 13 March a Knowledge Centre for Food Fraud and Quality, operated by the Joint Research Centre. The Knowledge Centre, a network made up of experts in and outside the Commission, will support EU policy-makers and national authorities by providing access to, and sharing up-to-date scientific knowledge on food fraud and food quality issues.

MEPs set out plan to save Europe's bees

The EU needs a long-term strategy to rebuild the bee population, the EU Parliament said Thursday calling for more investment in protecting bee health, fighting honey adulteration and supporting beekeepers.