MEPs Back MS Right to Ban GM Cultivation
EU - Member States should have the flexibility to ban or restrict the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops and should be able to cite environmental motives for doing so, according to MEPs voting...

Exporters to Benefit from EU-South Korea FTA
EU - The EU-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the EU's first trade deal with an Asian country, will apply as of 1 July 2011.

FEFAC Welcomes EU’s GM Solution
EU - In Brussels, the president of the feed manufacturers' association, FEFAC, has welcomed the so-called 'technical solution' for unapproved genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which was adopted by...

EC Adopts Regulation to Control GM in Feed
EU - On 24 June, the European Commission (EC) adopted a regulation that harmonises the implementation of the zero tolerance policy on non-authorised genetically modified (GM) material in feed.

MEPs Vote to Maintain CAP Budget
EU - Voting earlier this week, MEPs called for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget to be maintained.

New Campaign to Stop Food from Cloned Animals
EU - Eurogroup for Animals has launched a new campaign, Clone-Free-Food, and a Declaration to gather support to end, as soon as possible, the use of cloning for food production in Europe.

EFSA Launches Update on GM Risk Assessment
EU - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched updated guidance for food and feed risk assessment of genetically modified (GM) plants.

Reformed CAP to Address Industry Concerns
EU - The Commission briefed the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on the conclusions of the enlarged advisory group on pig meat at the Council meeting in Brussels last week.

Vet Week Highlights Responses to Food Crises
EU - A series of crises over the past 15-20 years, from BSE and Foot-and-Mouth disease (FMD) to dioxin contamination, led the EU to overhaul its entire Food Safety system making it today one of the safest...

NFU Backs European Approach on AMR
EU - MEPs have called for the responsible and prudent use of antimicrobial medicines in food animals, in a resolution adopted by the European Parliament.

Presidency Urges Compromise over Cloned Foods
EU - The Hungarian Presidency hopes for the Council and the Parliament to agree on the new draft regulation on foods from cloned animals, Minister of State for EU Affairs, the Presidency declared at the...

First Guidelines on Nano-Technology in Feed & Food
EU - European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published its first practical guidance for assessing nano applications in food and feed.

Biological Sciences Reinforced to Tackle Big Issues
EU - Three new EU research infrastructures on biological sciences will help tackle climate change, disease and threats to the food supply.

EU to Target Antimicrobial Resistance in 2012
EU - When Denmark takes over the EU Presidency on 1 January 2012, antimicrobial resistance will be a priority, especially for pig farmers.

Committee Sets Out Clearer Rules on Labelling
EU - Food labels should include mandatory nutritional information, inter alia on artificial trans fats and the country of provenance, said Environment Committee MEPs on Tuesday.

MEPs: EU Countries Should be Able to Ban GMOs
EU - MEPs from the Environment Committee voted to allow EU countries to ban or restrict the use of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) on environmental grounds, giving them better legal protection in...

Ag Ministers Discuss Product Quality Schemes
EU - At the 3084th meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg yesterday, 14 April, Ministers had broad-ranging discussions on subjects as diverse as Common Fisheries Policy reform,...

MEP Calls for Tougher Controls on Animal Antibiotics
EU - Public health officials have long warned of the dangers of the over-use of antibiotics in humans. The same applies to animals, and since the increase this overuse produces in antimicrobial resistance,...

EC Fails to Agree on Cloning, Novel Foods
EU - In spite of considerable efforts from the Hungarian Presidency, the conciliation on novel foods failed after more than three years of negotiations, and the EU will stay with the status quo that cloning...

Country-of-Origin Debate Back on EU Agenda
EU - The debate surrounding country of origin labelling on meat and meat products is back on the agenda, accompanied by renewed lobbying from the NFU's Brussels office.

Trade Agreements Must Not Jeopardise Agriculture
EU - When negotiating international trade agreements, the European Commission must stop making concessions that can adversely affect European farmers, says a European Parliament resolution approved on...

EU GM Import Decision a Step in the Right Direction
EU - NFU Scotland has welcomed new EU measures agreed yesterday which will allow EU Member States to accept shipments of animal feed materials which include traces of not yet EU-approved GM material up...

Proposal over GM Material in Feed Endorsed
EU - The harmonisation of controls for genetically modified (GM) material in feed has been endorsed by Member States.

Meat & Bone Meal Ban in Feeds Remains in Place
EU - Poland's request to resume the use of 'processed animal protein' (meat and bone meal, MBM) in feeds for pigs and poultry was rejected by other Member States until issues over the material's involvement...

Council Takes Next Step on Food Labelling Rules
EU - The proposed regulation on nutritional labelling of foods received Council approval yesterday, 21 February. Country of origin labelling (COOL) is to be included if 'the failure to do so would mislead...

Ag Council to Discuss Animal Protein Use in Feed
EU - Among the topics on the agenda for the Agriculture & Fisheries Council meeting on Monday (21 February) are laying hen welfare and the future use of animal proteins in feeds for pigs and poultry. ...

Food Security Under Threat: Global Response Needed
EU - Climate change and commodity speculation are among the main factors threatening food security inside and outside the EU, according to a European Parliament resolution adopted on Thursday. MEPs call...

IFA Warning over EU/Mercosur Trade Negotiations
EU - Speaking from Brussels, Irish Farmers Association (IFA) President, John Bryan, welcomed the strong support from the European Parliament demanding that the EU Commission must take full account of equivalence...

EC Maintains Zero Tolerance over GM in Feed
EU - The European Commission has postponed a vote to ease the regulations over genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in animal feeds, fearing opposition from several member states.

EC GM Stance Should Apply to Animals
EUROPE - Eurogroup for Animals has expressed concern that the European Commission is to present an ethical and moral list to justify a ban on genetically modified (GM) crops to the European Council today...