About: FoodDrinkEurope
Europe aims to make its food a global green standard, despite trade concerns
Ahead of a much-anticipated ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy to accompany the EU Green Deal, some EU policymakers say Europe’s food should be protected from American pressure.
Sustainable Food Systems: Does the EU ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy have all the answers?
As the food sector strives to move towards more sustainable food systems and implementing the United Nations SDGs, it faces growing challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and malnutrition, all affecting the sector and society alike.
Commission bemused by consumer information conundrum
The European Commission has started sketching the new EU-wide food labelling scheme, expected to be proposed in the context of the new Farm to Fork Strategy (F2F), but the debate over what kind of information to provide to consumers has just started.
Industry’s pathway to more sustainable food systems
As the largest manufacturing sector in the EU, the food and drink industry will be a key stakeholder in the European Green Deal discussions, especially when it comes to the Farm to Fork Strategy. Hubert Weber, president of FoodDrinkEurope, outlines the food and drink sector’s route to more sustainable food systems.
FoodDrinkEurope launches priorities for the EU institutions
FoodDrinkEurope is ready to step up to the plate!
‘EU’s best asset’ needs to be safeguarded, not only improved
While celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Single Market last year, the Commission called it 'Europe’s best asset in a changing world'. But Single Market’s resilience to internal and external shocks still needs to be strengthened further.
Agri-food sector calls for foodstuffs ‘ fast-track’ in case of no-deal Brexit
European farmers, agri-traders and food makers are lobbying EU negotiators to consider unilateral contingency measures specific for foodstuffs, as current preparedness procedures alone would not be enough to avoid a harsh impact of no-deal Brexit on the agri-food sector.
New EU bioeconomy strategy widens scope to solve more cycle problems
The European Commission's new strategy is seeking to create a sustainable bioeconomy and build a carbon-neutral future. Rather than just find a replacement for petroleum-based products, the strategy addresses broader cyclic challenges, including food and nutrition security.
Visegrad +4 push for extension of unfair trade practices to large suppliers
The Visegrad Four, as well as Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Slovenia, have warned about “disproportions” in the food supply chain if large suppliers are not covered by the European Commission’s proposal on unfair trade practices (UTPs).
Country of origin food labelling to be voluntary, but not always
Country of origin food labelling will be obligatory only if the main ingredient of a particular food product comes from a different country and the producer wants to have the country of origin label, a European Commission spokesperson told EURACTIV.com.
France opts for colour coded nutrition labelling
France's ministers for health, agriculture and the economy signed on Tuesday (31 October) a decree introducing a voluntary labelling scheme for food products to reduce obesity, causing upheaval in the food industry.
Food & drink industry boss: Do not confuse ‘quality’ with ‘recipe’ in food debate
What has been mixed in the current dual quality food conversation is ‘quality versus recipe’, as consumers have different preferences on sweetness and saltiness and we just have to accept it, FoodDrinkEurope leader told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Spain to join the gastro-nationalism wave on origin of milk
Spain has notified the European Commission on 5 September it will create a new law to include the origin of milk on the label of milk and dairy products, adding fuel to the gastro-nationalism debate.
‘No second class consumers’: Juncker slams double food quality in the EU
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker criticised double standards of food quality in his address to Parliament on Wednesday morning (13 September), saying that there should be no “second class consumers” in the single market.
Italy to extend country of origin labelling to tomato products
The Italian ministry of agriculture declared its intention on Monday (4 September) to include the origin of primary ingredients on the labels of tomato-based products, drawing criticism from the European food and drink industry for "undermining the EU single market for food".
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.
Nestlé boss: Simplified food labels will better inform consumers
Simplified food label schemes like the UK-style traffic light will provide EU consumers clear and simple elements and therefore, better inform them, Marco Settembri told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Food industry focuses on sustainable sourcing to mitigate climate change
SPECIAL REPORT / Faced with a raw materials scarcity due to climate change, food and drink giants have turned to a sustainable management in order to protect the environment and ensure their future viability.
Commission seeks solutions to ‘confusing’ Green labelled products
SPECIAL REPORT / Adopting common methodologies to measure products’ environmental footprint is part of the EU’s efforts to move toward a green single market. But communicating this environmental information is a huge challenge.
Parliament vote on novel foods heats up cloned animals debate
The European Parliament made it easier for 'novel foods' to enter the EU market last week (28 October). But all matters relating to cloned animals have been added to another legislative proposal, heating up debate on the issue.
EU agri-food industries draw ‘red lines’ in TTIP battle
European agri-food business organisations have drawn their “red lines” ahead of the eleventh round of EU-US trade talks taking place next week, expressing serious concerns over access to the US market for their products.