Food labelling
EU unveils revision of food quality scheme amid push to change the minimum
The latest revamping of the EU’s geographical indications (GIs) policy was marked as "an evolution" without substantial changes but still ruffled the feathers of food producers and some member states, who would have liked to preserve the status quo of the framework.
Austria tries to force-feed origin label to EU farm ministers
While Austrian Agriculture Minister Elisabeth Köstinger was keen to put the question of a mandatory origin label on the table of this week’s informal ministerial meeting in Strasbourg, participants said it did not make the cut.
Germany favours ‘pragmatic’ approach to animal welfare labelling
Germany's agriculture ministry wants to approach the implementation of a national animal husbandry label "step by step", while also pushing an origin label at the EU level. EURACTIV Germany reports.
MEPs concerned by ‘trademark’ approach for new geographical indications rules
European lawmakers expressed concerns over a change of course in the EU's geographical indications (GIs) policy, drifting away from current rules and particularly European Commission supervision.
France might drop support for Nutri-score, say Italians
The French government is mulling over the possibility of not backing the French colour-coded nutritional label Nutri-score as the new EU-wide food labelling scheme, according to Italy's agriculture minister.
Champagne makers mark first win in ‘Champanillo’ legal battle after EU court ruling
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the EU's protected designation of origin (PDO) for foodstuff and drinks extends to services, allowing the French champagne lobby to carry off a tactical win in a legal battle against a small Spanish restaurant chain.
Greek fires decimate honey sector, opening floodgates for cheap, fraudulent imports
The wildfires that swept across Greece this summer have decimated the country's beekeeping sector, leaving it vulnerable to a barrage of cheap and potentially fraudulent honey imports, EU farmers’ association COPA-COGECA has warned.
First post-Brexit protected food not in conflict with existing EU geographical indication
There is no overlap between the first post-Brexit geographical indication under the new UK's framework and an existing one registered in the EU in 2003, EU and UK officials confirmed.
Food labelling proposal will be data-led, Commission says
Information on the sustainability of food products in the EU's forthcoming harmonised front-of-pack labelling will heavily rely on data collected by producers, an EU official has said. Other stakeholders were quick to point out, however, that sustainability is only one factor in the complex labelling process.
Eco-score makes its entry in EU’s front-of-pack labelling debate
The European Commission registered on Wednesday (30 June) a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) calling for a "European eco-score" to inform consumers about the ecological impact of different products amid growing support for such a move in France. EURACTIV France reports.
Steam rises as India and Pakistan take basmati battle to EU
From biryani to pilau, Pakistan and India's shared culinary landscape is defined by basmati, a distinctive long-grain rice now at the centre of the latest tussle between the bitter nuclear rivals.
Commission awards historic EU protection for African food
South Africa's 'rooibos' dried leaves and stems, used to produce the eponymous herbal-infused tea, have become the first African food to receive the status of geographical indication (GIs) in the European Union.
EU cautious on Danone’s shift towards ‘best before’ date marking
The European Commission has urged caution about the expiry date marking of highly perishable food after multinational food concern Danone announced plans to get rid of the 'use by' reference for its dairy products.
Report: majority of consumers want compulsory labelling on all genetically modified food
A majority of European consumers want to see compulsory labelling on food products containing genetically modified crops, according to a recent Ipsos report, but industry players insist that this is impossible to implement.
Nutri-Score food labelling plan is not panacea, EU official says
The proposed colour-coded Nutri-Score labelling system should not be seen as a panacea for consumers to assess the healthiness of food, according to a member of the cabinet of EU's agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski.
French dairy farmers sour after milk origin labelling scrapped
A decision by France's top court to annul the obligation to label the origin of milk has provoked outrage in France. Dairy farmers and politicians are particularly sour about the move, calling it an "unacceptable step backwards." EURACTIV France reports.
New report reiterates there is no East-West divide in food quality
A new study on food quality has found detectable differences between European products but said they were not correlated with geography, lending weight to the idea that there is no East-West divide in food quality discrimination in Europe.
Scientists renew support for Nutri-Score amid a ‘Mediterranean’ uprising
A group of scientists made another plea for making the colour-coded nutrition label mandatory at the EU level while Mediterranean countries are still up in arms against it.
Geographical indications offer clear added value, says Commission
Geographical indications offer a clear added value to agrifood products and are an "important asset" of rural territories, a new study, released by the European Commission last week, has concluded. EURACTIV France reports.
Italy, Slovenia await Commission to settle balsamic vinegar dispute
Italy is up in arms, trying to defend the world-famous balsamic vinegar of Modena from an attempt to 'standardise' its production made by Slovenia, and the European Commission appears to have until 3 March to settle the issue.
EU regions’ advisory body proposes ‘Mediterranean diet’ label
An ad hoc label for food products belonging to the Mediterranean diet is the latest suggestion in the EU-wide food labelling fray to cope with negative effects caused by colour-coded Nutri-score.
Level of food security in the EU is not uniform, report shows
European countries performed differently in a study that measures the state of global food security, showing an internal discrepancy within the bloc that put Europe behind North America in the ranking of regions.
EU goes easy on alcohol in cancer plan
Alcoholic drinks have been treated differently to tobacco products in Europe's Beating cancer plan, as overuse, not its use, will be targeted by the Commission's initiatives.