Food safety

Safe Food for European Consumers

Safe food is a prerequisite for food security and paramount to the industry. The production, marketing and consumption of safe food are non-negotiable requirements that all partners along the food chain must adhere to, regardless of their place from farm to fork.

EU set to allow cultivation of GM crop

Despite record opposition among EU member states, European ministers failed to agree on Tuesday to ban a genetically-modified maize to be grown on EU soil. With 19 votes against, 4 abstentions and only 5 in favour, the disagreement will now leave in the hands of the European Commission whether to allow or not the insect-resistant maize for cultivation.

UN agency: Crisis-stricken South Sudan and Central African Republic have been ignored

Director of the Emergency and Rehabilitation Division at FAO Dominique Burgeon told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview that South Sudan and Central Republic of Congo require urgent “international donor support”. Recent episodes of violence and looting in both countries have had a huge impact on 'the food security sector', forcing hundreds of people to abandon their homes. “The need of food assistance is huge', Burgeon said.

MEPs want tougher sanctions over food fraud after horse meat scandal

One year after the horse meat scandal broke across Europe, the European Parliament on Tuesday called for more inspections of food production chains and tougher penalties for companies that commit food fraud. The controversy began last year when DNA tests revealed that some products sold across Europe were labeled as beef but in fact contained up to 100% horsemeat.

Sustainable Agriculture: A key ingredient to food security in Europe

Food security and food sustainability are key EU priorities in 2013. By the end of 2013, the European Commission is expected to follow up on its Resource Efficiency Roadmap with a Communication on Sustainable Food. How can this new policy framework best integrate a long- term approach to food and the environmental, social and economic pillars of sustainability? What options are at our disposal in Europe?

Outcry forces EU reversal on olive oil bottles

Battered by criticism and widespread ridicule, the European Commission on Thursday (23 May) reversed its decision to ban refillable bottles of olive oil from restaurants. Europe's leading farm groups, however, swiftly denounced the change as a defeat for consumers.

EU to impose bigger fines for food fraud after horsemeat scandal

In the wake of the horse meat scandal, the European Commission unveiled plans on Monday to impose bigger fines on food producers who commit fraud. The proposal comes after horse DNA was found in up to 5% of EU products labelled as beef, after the Commission carried out food tests across the continent.

Borg on Tobacco and Horsemeat

The Commissioner for health and consumer affairs tells EURACTIV that the horsemeat scandal should be seen for what it is: a fraud rather than a flaw in the regulation. He favours introducing tougher penalties for such incidents, but believes food labelling should be kept as a separate issue.

EU ministers to meet over horse meat scandal

As the horse meat scandal spreads across Europe, EU ministers will hold a snap meeting in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss a Europe-wide response to the crisis.