Food safety
Sowing the seeds of the post-2020 CAP
In June 2013, politicians approved the first major reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in a decade, following months of haggling over quotas, subsidies, and measures to improve environmental accountability.But when the new rules took full effect in 2015, a year behind schedule, some of the same leaders who had approved it called for changes …
Quality schemes help EU producers break new markets
The promotion of geographical indications (GI) has helped EU products attract new emerging markets which seek quality food. However, Europol warns that fake GI products are on the rise across the EU and policymakers should not disregard the protection of intellectual rights.
Italy demands origin labels for pasta and rice
All packets of pasta and rice sold in Italy will have to include labels of origin showing where the produce was grown, the government ruled on Thursday (20 July), in a move it said was aimed at protecting local farmers.
EU adopts first restrictions on cancer-causing acrylamide in food
Representatives of the EU’s 28 member states voted yesterday (19 July) in favour of a European Commission proposal to reduce the presence in food of acrylamide, a known carcinogenic substance present in fries, crisps, bread, biscuits, or coffee.
European agri-food: How Spain and the EU ensure quality
The European Union has put in place strict rules that govern food quality. The prestige this has created around the world has made the bloc competitive at the highest level. EURACTIV’s partner EFEAgro reports.
Industry asks the Commission to harmonise sports food rules
Four sports foods trade associations launched a joint initiative on Monday (26 June) calling on the European Commission to amend EU food legislation and come up with harmonised rules to regulate their products and ensure their proper use and equal treatment in all member states.
Public health hangs in the balance with salmonella risk
Salmonella, one of Europe’s most prevalent food-borne diseases, has been on the retreat the past decade, but EU experts have so far failed to protect a two-year deadlock that could see one of the most important tools in the fight against salmonella banned, writes Randall Ennis.
Conflicts of interest erode trust in food safety agency
Close to half of the experts at the European Food Security Agency have conflicts of interest that call into question the validity of the agency’s work, according to a new study by Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO). EURACTIV France reports.
Consumer group wants to kill cartoons on ‘unhealthy’ food for children
The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) urged food companies on Wednesday (14 June) to stop using cartoon characters to promote unhealthy foods for children, saying they negatively affect their dietary behaviour.
Borissov accuses EU of ‘apartheid’ over lower quality food in Eastern Europe
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on Saturday (27 May) called an extraordinary cabinet meeting over two issues, one of them being the practice of big companies to market the same brands of products with big differences in quality between Eastern and Western Europe.
Andriukaitis heats up glyphosate discussion with ‘science’ comments
In light of heavy criticism by the EU socialists in the revived glyphosate debate, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis told EURACTIV.com that political opinions cannot outweigh broadly-agreed scientific opinions.
Romanian MEP points out ‘green contradiction’ of organic trade deal
A recent trade deal on organic products between the EU and Chile has sparked a discussion regarding the environmental footprint of organic products transportation.
Commission: EU needs ‘broad reflection’ on new breeding techniques and beyond
A “broad EU reflection” on new breeding techniques and innovation in the seeds sector and beyond is needed, European Commission sources told EURACTIV.com in the light of a new scientific report on genetic engineering techniques in agriculture.
No quick and easy fix to food price issue, EU official admits
There will be no easy solution to high food prices in Europe unless the supply chain is made transparent and farmers get organised to take a bigger slice of the market, a European Commission official has warned.
Short food chains seen as answer to farmers’ pay and product quality
Local markets, where farmers and producers sell directly to the consumer, have prospered across the EU in both rural and urban areas in recent years.
Pesticide residues detected in almost all European foods
More than 97% of European food products contain pesticide residues, according to analyses carried out by the EU’s national authorities. EURACTIV’s partner Journal de l’Environnement reports.
Slovak study fuels concerns about lower quality food in Eastern Europe
A new study carried out by the Slovak government has found significant quality differences in the same products sold in Slovakia and Austria.
EU health chief says Brazil meat scandal ‘is not closed’
Brazil needs independent controls over its meat industry, the EU’s Health Commissioner said yesterday (29 March), as he wrapped up a visit to the country rocked by an anti-corruption investigation focusing on bribery of its food-sanitation inspectors.
EU says Brazil must ‘restore trust’ in meat exports
The European Union's health Commissioner said on Monday (27 March) that Brazil will have to "restore trust" in its meat exports after being hit by a scandal over expired meat being passed off as fresh.
Green NGOs blame Monsanto for ‘buying science’ to save glyphosate
A new report accuses glyphosate producers of “buying science” in order to secure the substance's position in the EU market.
Europe poised for total ban on bee-harming pesticides
The world’s most widely used insecticides would be banned from all fields across Europe under draft regulations from the European Commission, seen by EURACTIV’s partner The Guardian.
Smart farming seeks role in post-2020 CAP
Precision farming could play a leading role in making EU agriculture more sustainable. But green NGOs claim that the concentration of food production in the hands of the agri-food industry will have catastrophic consequences.
Brazil’s rotten meat scandal strikes ahead of fresh EU trade talks
The European Union has insisted Brazilian representatives attend an emergency meeting today (20 March) to explain themselves regarding a scandal involving rotten meat and the country's two largest exporters. EURACTIV Spain reports.
Smart farming hinges on e-skills and rural internet access
The digitisation of agriculture could help Europe address food security and environmental issues at the same time. But realising this vision will require e-skills, proper broadband infrastructure and big data management, experts warn.