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UECBV’s European Newsletter April 2016 UECBV Ref. 8679

Key stories

Meat industry reacts to EU emergency aid

NGOs demand “Fitness check” of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

The Commission presents reform of posting of workers – towards a fair and truly European Labour Market

France pushes transparency rules for meat, dairy companies

EU chance to slash antibiotic resistance is now or never

BSE-infected cow dies in France

MEPs reiterate call for mandatory country of origin labelling of meat and milk

Should we be feeding food waste to livestock?

Plans to call for a reduction in cattle numbers

The Commission publishes further TTIP documents in ongoing transparency commitment

Online public consultation on the future of EU-Australia and EU-New Zealand trade and economic relations opened on 15th March 2016

MERCOSUR ready to exchange trade offers with the EU in April

CONTENTS

EUROPEAN AFFAIRS ........................................................................................................................................... 4

Meat industry reacts to EU emergency aid ............................................................................................... 4 'The EU in 2015' – General Report of the activities of the European Union published ............................ 4 Brexit and Britain - what would it mean for UK trade? ............................................................................. 4 January 2016 - Euro area unemployment rate at 10.3% - EU28 at 8.9% .................................................. 4 Commission proposes new Emergency Assistance instrument for faster crisis response within the EU . 5 January 2016 - Euro area international trade in goods surplus €6.2 bn - €11.0 bn deficit for EU28 ........ 5 February 2016 - Annual inflation down to -0.2% in the euro area - Down to -0.2% in the EU ................. 5 NGOs demand “Fitness check” of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) ................................................ 5 Commissioner Thyssen welcomes the signature of the Decision creating a European Platform tackling undeclared work ........................................................................................................................................ 6 The Commission presents reform of posting of workers – towards a fair and truly European Labour Market ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 Maximum working week of 40 hours common throughout Europe ......................................................... 6 New forms of employment request social policy measures ..................................................................... 7

EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE .................................................................................................................................. 7

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European Commission activates exceptional measures to further support European farmers in crisis .. 7 France gathers Eastern allies to take on agricultural crisis ....................................................................... 7 Commission published its Report on the Sustainable use of Biocides ...................................................... 7 Glyphosate herbicide – don’t renew its authorization, urge MEPs ........................................................... 8 Organic farming in the EU.......................................................................................................................... 8 Denmark loses place as top EU pork exporter .......................................................................................... 8 France pushes transparency rules for meat, dairy companies .................................................................. 8 CAP mid-term review ................................................................................................................................. 9 Promotion programmes for EU agricultural products outside the Union ............................................... 10 Increase in EU assistance to save pig farms and abattoirs established with EU funding ........................ 10 Health crisis in the pig sector................................................................................................................... 11 Crisis in the pigmeat market .................................................................................................................... 12 Lifting the ban on the trade in live pigs ................................................................................................... 13

YEMCo News .................................................................................................................................................... 14 PUBLIC HEALTH – FOOD SAFETY ...................................................................................................................... 14

20 people receiving treatment after eating poisoned meat in Kenya .................................................... 14 EU chance to slash antibiotic resistance is now or never ........................................................................ 14 EU law on medicated feed will reduce antibiotic resistance in livestock and humans ........................... 15 Food safety .............................................................................................................................................. 15 The additive BHA in animal feeds ............................................................................................................ 16 Food infections in the European Union ................................................................................................... 16

FVO INSPECTION REPORTS ............................................................................................................................... 17 EFSA .................................................................................................................................................................. 18 ANIMAL HEALTH & ANIMAL WELFARE ............................................................................................................. 19

Europeans want farm animal welfare ..................................................................................................... 19 Slaughter without stunning: GAIA reveals new images of violations of the law ..................................... 19 BSE-infected cow dies in France .............................................................................................................. 19 EU silent on Brazil horsemeat ban ........................................................................................................... 19 MEPs move to tackle animal diseases ..................................................................................................... 19 Animal welfare - conditions in European abattoirs ................................................................................. 20 Applying EU animal welfare regulations to third-country livestock keepers .......................................... 20 Case of avian influenza in France ............................................................................................................ 21 Continued failure by Member States to enforce compliance during live animal exports to third countries .................................................................................................................................................. 22

IMAGE OF MEAT ............................................................................................................................................... 23 A Lesson for Highland Education Secretary: Less Meat is a Good Thing ................................................. 23

FOOD LABELLING AND QUALITY ....................................................................................................................... 23 New investigation into the shocking origin of horse meat in Belgian supermarkets .............................. 23 Seven EU states oppose British traffic light labelling .............................................................................. 24 MEPs reiterate call for mandatory country of origin labelling of meat and milk .................................... 24 GM and antibiotic materials in imported animal feed and the need for food labelling ......................... 25

ENVIRONMENT / SUSTAINABILITY ................................................................................................................... 26 FoodWaste: Regions and cities to join EU platform to reduce food waste ............................................. 26 Climate Action: Europe readies next steps to implement the Paris Agreement ..................................... 26 South Africa’s drought depletes livestock count ..................................................................................... 26 Circular economy: New Regulation to boost the use of organic and waste-based fertilisers ................ 27 Should we be feeding food waste to livestock? ...................................................................................... 27 Need for a social dimension to the development of the circular economy ............................................ 27

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Is Europe's freshwater use sustainable? ................................................................................................. 28 Plans to call for a reduction in cattle numbers ........................................................................................ 28

RESEARCH & INNOVATION ............................................................................................................................... 29 Innovation ‘vital’ to meet growing protein demand ............................................................................... 29 EU-funded FOODINTEGRITY .................................................................................................................... 29 New EU Finance Opportunities for SMEs and Technological Innovation Ahead .................................... 29

VAT ................................................................................................................................................................... 29 EU launches feasibility Study on the Development of an EU VAT web portal ........................................ 29

INTERNATIONAL TRADE ................................................................................................................................... 29 South Africa opens door to US pork ........................................................................................................ 29 Final details on CETA − Liberal success of Justin Trudeau and Cecilia Malmström ................................. 30 European Parliament supports FTA talks with New Zealand .................................................................. 30 MERCOSUR ready to exchange trade offers with the EU in April ........................................................... 30 EU’s Commissioner for Trade visits Washington D.C. ............................................................................. 30 The Commission publishes further TTIP documents in ongoing transparency commitment ................. 30 How TPP, TTIP and agriculture are shaping EU Japan trade talks ........................................................... 31 Cuba - a ‘window of opportunity’ for EU pork ........................................................................................ 31 30/03: 13th EU-India Summit in Brussels ................................................................................................ 31 Uncertain fate of trade deals in human rights limelight ......................................................................... 31 Online public consultation on the future of EU-Australia and EU-New Zealand trade and economic relations opened on 15th March 2016 .................................................................................................... 32 European Parliament supports the commencement of FTA negotiations with New Zealand ................ 32 EU’s Commissioner for Trade visits Georgia ............................................................................................ 32

NEW EU LEGISLATION – March 2016 ............................................................................................................... 33

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EUROPEAN AFFAIRS

Meat industry reacts to EU emergency aid

Source: Global Meat News - Date: 18/03/2016 Europe’s meat industry is “not particularly impressed” with the emergency aid measures proposed by the European Commission for the crisis-hit agriculture industry. Read more…

'The EU in 2015' – General Report of the activities of the European Union published

Source: European Commission - Date: 09/03/2016 Today the European Commission has published the 2015 edition of the General Report of the activities of the European Union. The General Report covers the major events and initiatives of the year. This year, these include, amongst others, the EU's efforts to tackle the refugee crisis, the agreement on support for Greece, the EU's response following the Paris terrorist attacks and the launch of the Investment Plan for Europe, as well as other major initiatives such as the Digital Single Market, Energy Union and Capital Markets Union. The Report and a separate shorter summary of it present the EU's activities in a citizen-friendly way, designed to be accessible not only for those familiar with EU affairs, but also for the general public. This year, the interactivity and the visual impact have been significantly improved through extensive use of hyperlinks, photos, videos and infographics. The publication of the General Report is a Treaty obligation, set out in Article 249(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The Report is available in all official EU languages here. (For more information: Alexander Winterstein - Tel.: +32 229 93265)

Brexit and Britain - what would it mean for UK trade?

Source: Reuters, Date: 15/03/2016 The stakes will be high for Britain's historic role as a free-trading nation when it holds a referendum on whether to stay in the European Union on June 23. There is no precedent for an economy as big as Britain's leaving a trade bloc, and the rival campaigns paint contrasting pictures of what quitting the EU might mean for its trade. Below are some of the main issues around the potential risks or benefits for British trade of a so-called Brexit. TRADE WITH EU - HOW MUCH RISK?

Britain's most important trade partnership is with the EU's single market, the world's biggest trade area. Campaigners seeking to keep Britain in the EU say it would be in a weak negotiating position if it left and then sought to hammer out a trade agreement with its former partners, something many "out" campaigners say they want. Government figures show 12.6 percent of Britain's economic output is linked to exports to the EU's 27 other members, for whom only 3.1 percent of output is linked to exports to Britain. Read more...

January 2016 - Euro area unemployment rate at 10.3% - EU28 at 8.9%

Source: European Commission - Date: 01/03/2016 The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.3% in January 2016, down from 10.4% in December 2015, and from 11.3% in January 2015. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since August 2011. The EU28 unemployment rate was 8.9%

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in January 2016, down from 9.0% in December 2015, and from 9.8% in January 2015. This is the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since May 2009. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Read more… Commission proposes new Emergency Assistance instrument for faster crisis response within the EU

Source: European Commission - Date: 02/03/2016 As the refugee crisis continues to put pressure on many European Member States, the Commission proposes a faster way for support to be provided to tackle wide-ranging humanitarian crises within the EU. Today the European Commission has proposed an Emergency Assistance instrument to be used within the European Union to provide a faster, more targeted response to major crises, including helping

Member States cope with large numbers of refugees. The initiative comes as the refugee crisis reaches an unprecedented scale with the need to provide immediate emergency support in several Member States hosting large amounts of refugees on their territories. Read more… January 2016 - Euro area international trade in goods surplus €6.2 bn - €11.0 bn deficit for EU28

Source: European Commission - Date: 17/03/2016 The first estimate for euro area (EA19) exports of goods to the rest of the world in January 2016 was €145.3 billion, a decrease of 2% compared with January 2015 (€148.0 bn). Imports from the rest of the world stood at €139.1 bn, a fall of 1% compared with January 2015 (€140.9 bn). As a result, the euro area recorded a €6.2 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in January 2016, compared with

+€7.1 bn in January 2015. Intra-euro area trade remained stable at €132.5 bn in January 2016 compared with January 2015. Read more… February 2016 - Annual inflation down to -0.2% in the euro area - Down to -0.2% in the EU

Source: European Commission - Date: 17/03/2016 Euro area annual inflation was -0.2% in February 2016, down from 0.3% in January 2016. In February 2015 the rate was -0.3%. European Union annual inflation was also -0.2% in February 2016, down from 0.3% in January. A year earlier the rate was -0.3%. These figures come from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Read more…

NGOs demand “Fitness check” of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

Source: BirdLife International - Date: 21/03/2016 More than 100 NGOs active in farming, development, environment, climate, animal welfare, food systems and public health, have signed a joint letter [1], to the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, to demand a review of the European food and farming system. The CAP, which accounts for almost 40% of the EU Budget, is not equipped to address the fundamental challenges that Europe is facing in

the agriculture sector. It has not been able to prevent and in many cases even paved the way for an unfair system for farmers, a constant crisis on agricultural markets, a continuous decline in the state of natural resources, failures in delivering in animal welfare, serious public health effects, and severe negative impacts beyond Europe’s borders. Read more…

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Commissioner Thyssen welcomes the signature of the Decision creating a European Platform tackling undeclared work

Source: European Commission - Date: 09/03/2016 Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen, welcomes today's official signature by the European Parliament and the Council of the decision to establish a European Platform to tackle undeclared work. The main aim of the Platform is to reinforce cooperation between Member States in the fight against undeclared work, by exchanging best practices which could lead to the development of common guidelines and principles to help inspection authorities to tackle undeclared work more effectively. Commissioner Thyssen said: "Creating a deep and fair internal market is one of the priorities of this Commission. In this context, yesterday we have put a revision of the Posting of Workers Directive on the table. Today we confirm our willingness to fight undeclared work. Undeclared work is a problem which causes serious damage - not only to working conditions, but also to fair competition between companies and to public budgets. I therefore warmly welcome today's signature, as I am convinced that reinforced cooperation and exchange between Member States in the fight against undeclared work will bring us again closer to a deep and fair internal market." The Platform will bring together different enforcement authorities, such as labour inspectorates, social security and tax authorities of all Member States. Social partners will also participate in the Platform. A first meeting, gathering all actors involved in the Platform, will take place on 27 May in Brussels. More information on the proposal can be found here. The signing ceremony will take place today at 14:30 in Strasbourg. The Commission presents reform of posting of workers – towards a fair and truly European Labour Market

Source: EU - Date: 08/03/2016 Message by Marianne Thyssen on the revision of the Posted Workers Directive Today the European Commission is presenting a targeted revision of the rules on posting of workers, as set out in the 2016 Commission work programme. The aim of this proposal is to facilitate the provision of services across borders within a climate of fair competition and respect for the rights of posted workers, who are employed in one Member State and sent to work temporarily in another by their employer. More specifically, the initiative aims at ensuring fair wage conditions and a level playing field between posting and local companies in the host country. Read more... Maximum working week of 40 hours common throughout Europe

Source: Eurofound News, March 2016 The figure shows the duration of the statutory maximum working week in EU Member States according to the legislation in place in 2014. With the exception of Belgium, France and Germany (shown in orange), most countries fall into one of two main groups: those that set their maximum weekly hours at the 48 hours specified by the Working Time Directive (in yellow); those that operate a lower limit of 40 hours, which may be extended up to 48 hours or more under certain conditions (in green). Read more in Working time developments in the 21st century: Work duration and its regulation in the EU.

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New forms of employment request social policy measures

Source: EESC - Date: 31/03/2016 How are new forms of employment impacting workers? Is the total flexibility of workers and labour market desirable? Will the sharing economy be putting an end to Europe's social protection systems? Today's EESC public hearing, entitled the changing nature of employment relationships, the sharing economy, zero-hour contracts and the living wage discussed the growth of non-standard forms of employment in light of workers' protection. Shifting work patterns, introduced by popular online platforms in the field of transportation or accommodation for instance, have important implications for the labour market, tax and social security systems, as well as the living wage. While innovation and creativity are crucial to driving a sustainable and competitive social market economy, these new forms of employment must lead to positive outcomes for all members of society, the hearing heard. Read more...

EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE

European Commission activates exceptional measures to further support European farmers in crisis

Source: European Commission - Date: 14/03/2016 "This is a package of measures which can have a material and positive impact on European agricultural markets and it should now be given the chance to succeed." The European Commission is announcing today an additional package of exceptional measures using all the tools made available in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to support EU farmers while safeguarding the EU internal market. The Commission

acknowledges the depth and duration of the current agricultural crisis as well as the considerable efforts made at Member State level to support their farmers and is responding with a further meaningful package of measures. Read more… France gathers Eastern allies to take on agricultural crisis

Source: EurActiv - Date: 14/03/2016 The EU’s eastern member states could throw their weight behind France’s calls for a temporary suspension of the rules of the internal market to counteract the agricultural crisis. Stéphane Le Foll’s efforts to convince the EU to intervene in the agricultural crisis that is gripping Europe have so far borne little fruit. But the French minister for agriculture has looked to the East for new hope. “I met my Slovenian colleague in

Ljubljana and we completely agree on the diagnosis of the situation and the solutions proposed by France,” the minister told the press on Friday (11 March). With Slovenia’s support, Le Foll will present his action plan to his counterparts from Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria and possibly Austria at a meeting ahead of the Agriculture Council on Monday (14 March). Read more… Commission published its Report on the Sustainable use of Biocides Source: European Commission - Date: 16/03/2016

Biocidal products, such as disinfectants, wood preservatives, insecticides, insect repellents or rodenticides, are a family of products intended to destroy or control harmful or unwanted organisms (such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, insects or vertebrate animals) that have detrimental effects on the environment, on animals, on humans, their activities or the products they use or produce. Biocidal products are used in a wide variety of ways by both industrial and professional users as well as by the general

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public. In 2012, the Biocidal Products Regulation1 was adopted and it stipulated that the Commission shall, on the basis of experience gained with the application of this Regulation, present to the Council and the European Parliament a report on how the Biocidal Products Regulation contributes to the sustainable use of biocidal products. Read more…

Glyphosate herbicide – don’t renew its authorization, urge MEPs

Source: EU Reporter - Date: 22/03/2016 So long as serious concerns remain about the carcinogenicity and endocrine disruptive properties of the herbicide glyphosate, which is used in hundreds of farm, forestry, urban and garden applications, the EU Commission should not renew its authorization. Instead, it should commission an independent review and disclose all the scientific evidence that the European Food Safety Authority

(EFSA) used to assess glyphosate, said Environment Committee MEPs on Tuesday. The European Commission should not renew the approval of the herbicide substance glyphosate on the EU market for another 15 years, until 2031, without any restrictions as proposed, said the Environment Committee in a resolution passed by 38 votes to 6, with 18 abstentions. Read more…

Organic farming in the EU

Source: EurActiv - Date: 23/03/2016 Today, organic farming plays an increasingly bigger role on the world’s agricultural stage. In the European Union, the use of organic agricultural land has almost doubled in recent years. Austria, the Czech Republic and Estonia have the highest proportion of organically farmed land in Europe. EU citizens are also increasing their demand for organic products. Europe is the second largest market in the

world, worth €22.7 billion. Germans, French and British are the biggest consumers. Organic farming is often seen as a solution to feeding a growing global population and reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. Critics, however, suggest that organic yields are on average 20 to 25% lower than those of conventional farms. Read more… Denmark loses place as top EU pork exporter

Source: Global Meat News - Date: 24/03/2016 Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. The Scandinavian state, once Europe’s top pork exporter, has been overtaken by Germany and Spain as the leading exporters of pork to non-EU markets. Read more…

France pushes transparency rules for meat, dairy companies

Source: Euractiv - Date: 31/03/2016 France unveiled plans yesterday (30 March) to increase fines for food firms that do not publish annual results, part of government efforts to bring transparency to price talks blamed for hurting farmers. The government has been struggling to deal with a downturn in meat and dairy markets that has prompted protests from livestock farmers in the past few months. French farmers say low market prices for meat and dairy products, partly due to a Russian embargo on Western food and a falloff in Chinese dairy imports, are exacerbated by tough annual price negotiations between food processors and retailers. Read more...

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CAP mid-term review Source: EP register – Date: 11/03/2016 Question for written answer to the Commission Nicola Caputo, Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Ricardo Serrão Santos 2015 was a tough year for European farmers, with depressed market prices across key sectors. However, we must look positively to the future. The CAP mid-term review should be the opportunity for a true legislative act. In addition to new risk management instruments, further efforts are needed to reduce price volatility, invest more in rural development, improve the export strategy and support innovation in agriculture as well as young farmers who are hindered by difficulties related to access to land and credit. The CAP is far from being perfect. The most pertinent example is the ‘greening’ measure, which should be revised. Therefore, can the Commission explain: How it intends to review the CAP in 2017, particularly the package of ‘greening’ measures; Whether it intends to listen to MEPs and Member States who wish to see more innovation in agriculture, more opportunities for young farmers, increased intervention prices, more investment in rural development, and a more dynamic export strategy; Whether it intends to improve instruments to manage agricultural risks and create an observatory tool, similar to the Milk Market Observatory, that can closely monitor the current market situation and new trends in key agricultural sectors. Answer given by Mr Hogan on behalf of the Commission

The reformed Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will reach its cruising speed this year as it fully entered into force only in 2015; at the same time, simplification efforts are ongoing to facilitate implementation. On greening the Commission is preparing a targeted review of secondary law (1)(2) following up on its 2014 declaration to evaluate the experience with EFA (3) obligations after one year of application and taking a view on other greening elements. The Commission acknowledges the importance of supporting

innovation in agriculture, young farmers, investments in rural development and EU agri-food exports. The CAP, complemented by Horizon 2020, offers various measures which need to be properly used: the new European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability, the support for young farmers both via direct payments and via rural development funding, the new Rural Development Programmes and the activities for better market access (new promotion policy, negotiations of trade agreements and visits to third countries). The Commission is also aware that EU producers are operating in a competitive global market, which brings about new opportunities, but also more complexity and uncertainty. While higher intervention prices would undermine the fundamental choice of market-orientation, it should be highlighted that the CAP offers a market safety net that has been used several times in the past months (4)(5)(6). This comes on top of farm income support via direct payments and support for actions enhancing farm competitiveness via rural development. Also, the new Agricultural Markets Task Force will analyse and make recommendations for the improvement of the producers' situation; its final report is expected for late autumn 2016. (1) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 639/2014 of 11 March 2014, OJ L 181, 20.6.2014 (2) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 641/2014 of 16 June 2014, OJ L 181, 20.6.2014 (3) Ecological Focus Area (4) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1853 of 15 October 2015 providing for temporary exceptional aid to farmers in the livestock sectors, OJ L 271, 16.10.2015 (5) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1852 of 15 October 2015 opening a temporary exceptional private storage aid scheme for certain cheeses and fixing in advance the amount of aid, OJ L 271, 16.10.2015

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(6) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1852 of 15 October 2015 opening a temporary exceptional private storage aid scheme for certain cheeses and fixing in advance the amount of aid, OJ L 271, 16.10.2015 Promotion programmes for EU agricultural products outside the Union

Source: EP register – Date: 14/03/2016 Question for written answer to the Commission Andrejs Mamikins

In mid-November 2015 the Commission approved 33 new programmes aimed at promoting EU agricultural products inside and outside the Union. Over the next three years EUR 108 million will be spent on these programmes, including EUR 54 million from the EU budget. While 20 programmes are oriented towards the EU internal market, another 13 are directed at third countries and regions, such as those in the Far East, the CIS region, the Middle East, the Balkans and North America. 1 - On what concrete principles was the

selection of specific products for further promotion either within or beyond the Union based? 2 - A majority of these programmes come from Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Poland. Was it not the aim of the European Commission to ensure a balance among products coming from different Member States, or were some other considerations involved? 3 - Cereal products are almost entirely absent from the list of supported programmes. Does the Commission intend to intensify both the internal and the external promotion of these products in future? Answer given by Mr Hogan on behalf of the Commission

1 - In the aftermath of the Russian embargo, the Commission made and continues to make significant efforts to encourage the organisation of campaigns aimed at third countries, with a diversified set of target destinations offering potential for growth. It should be stressed that even under the Regulation (EC) 3/2008 (1) the overall proportion of campaigns focussing on third countries increased significantly in the 2015 selection waves.

In the selection process, first of all the quality and eligibility of each proposal was taken into account, ensuring the respect of the legislation governing the promotion scheme. 2 - EU promotion funding is not distributed on a national basis. This applies equally to the new promotion scheme under Regulation (EC) 1144/2014, and to the previous scheme governed by Regulation (EC) 3/2008. The selection is based on the quality of the proposals initiated by the sector. 3 - Products processed from cereals were eligible for funding under the previous promotion scheme and remain eligible for funding in the new promotion scheme (2), which entered into force on 1 December 2015. With an increasing promotion budget in the years to come, this sector will have tools at its disposal to step up promotion activities for its products. (1) Council Regulation (EC) No 3/2008 of 17 December 2007 on information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries, OJ L 3, 5.1.2008 (2) Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries and repealing Council regulation (EC) No 3/2008, OJ L 317, 4.11.2014 Increase in EU assistance to save pig farms and abattoirs established with EU funding

Source: EP register – Date: 18/03/2016 Question for written answer P-001336/2016 to the Commission Laurenţiu Rebega Romania is a small-scale producer of pig meat in the EU, at three million head of pigs each year. Domestic production of pig meat has nevertheless risen constantly since Romania joined the EU. The majority of Romanian pig farms and abattoirs have been established or modernised with EU funding, and are still ongoing projects. The market price of pig meat in

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Romania, which has been kept at an artificially low level by cheap imports from elsewhere in the Community, has led to monthly losses for pig farmers which in December 2015 exceeded EUR 15 million, and this state of affairs has been exacerbated by low consumption levels in January and February 2016. Pig farmers are not eligible to receive further support, but if the EU does not provide immediate and effective assistance, then the system will collapse. All the projects in receipt of EU funding, to the value of over EUR 200 million, will go to waste. Is there any possibility of the financial assistance approved by the Commission at the Extraordinary Agriculture Council Meeting of 7 September 2015 being increased by EUR 50 million and of that amount being allocated in its entirety to Romanian pig farmers to cover the losses they have been suffering since August 2014 owing to the embargo imposed by the Russian Federation? Answer given by Mr Hogan on behalf of the Commission

In the framework of the solidarity package for farmers, tabled at the Extraordinary meeting of the Council of agriculture ministers on 7 September 2015 and detailed at the informal meeting of the Council of 15 September 2015 (1), an envelope of EUR 11 145 958 has been allocated to Romania to be used for the livestock sector. Member States have been offered as well the possibility to grant additional support of up to 100% of their envelope, as long

as the same conditions are met as with Union aid. Romanian authorities have decided to allocate part of this envelope to the pigmeat sector. With a view to help the EU pigmeat sector, the Commission has also put in place other instruments such as: A private storage aid scheme for pigmeat through which 90 000 tonnes of meat have been withdrawn from the market and stored. Romania did use the measure by storing almost 1 000 tonnes of meat; Promotion activities specifically for the pigmeat and dairy sector with a budget of EUR 30 million for 2016. Finally, the Commission is actively working to open new markets for EU exports and to tackle nontariff barriers to trade in third countries, including for pigmeat. (1) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1853 of 15 October 2015 providing for temporary exceptional aid to farmers in the livestock sectors, OJ L 271, 16.10.2015, p. 25–30

Health crisis in the pig sector

Source: EP register – Date: 04/03/2016 Question for written answer E-000089/2016 to the Commission Miguel Viegas

The pig-farming sector is currently facing a serious crisis resulting from a fall in demand caused by various factors. These include the Russian embargo, which is both an economic embargo and a health embargo. For reasons that have yet to be explained, the African swine fever virus has been detected in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland. The situation has been further exacerbated by the detection of outbreaks of classical swine fever in the same region in 2009, 2011 and 2014. The 2014 outbreak affected Latvia, close to the border with

Belarus. What is the current situation with regard to both diseases? In the Commission’s view, when might it be possible for the EU to return to CSF- and ASF-free status? What is the current situation with regard to the talks now underway on products that are not covered by the economic embargo (live pigs, fat, lard and offal), and a possible regional approach to the EU on the part of the Russian health authorities which would make it possible to reopen export channels and relieve the current over-supply? Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission

A summary of the epidemiological situation for animal diseases in the EU for 2016 (1) and for previous years (2) can be found on the Commission’s webpage. The classical swine fever situation has shown a positive trend during the past few years with only one Member State having notified this disease in wild boar in 2015. However, African

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swine fever (ASF) affects currently five Member States and it is difficult to speculate on the future evolution of both of these diseases given their trans-boundary nature and the challenges related to the required coordination of efforts with neighbouring non-EU countries. It is reminded that in the case of ASF the virus strain is the same as that found in Russia. While there is an ongoing dispute settlement case under the World Trade Organization against Russia for the ban imposed on EU live pigs and pig products allegedly for ASF reasons, the Commission continues its efforts to achieve a mutually acceptable solution, in the respect of the international trade norms. Ongoing bilateral negotiations between the EU and Russia may allow the immediate resumption of trade of affected commodities not covered by the Russian embargo (e.g.: offal, fat and lard). To this end, the Commission submitted proposals and on many occasions expressed its readiness to discuss any concerns the other side might have. Unfortunately, Russia has so far not agreed to enter into discussion for an EU-level solution to the ban. (1) http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/adns/adns_outbreaks_per_disease_en.pdf (2) http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/adns/index_en.htm

Crisis in the pigmeat market

Source: EP register – Date: 04/03/2016 Question for written answer E-000088/2016 to the Commission Miguel Viegas The pigmeat market in the European Union has deteriorated in the course of 2014 and 2015. The situation became even worse in the last months of 2015, with structural oversupply and insufficient demand caused by a combination of the Russian embargo (whose extension for a further year has already been announced) and a drop in consumption resulting from austerity policies. Like other sectors of livestock farming, pig farming is characterised by a long production cycle and high level of investment in farming

equipment. The Commission has said that private storage aid for pigmeat is to be increased. When will it be possible to apply for this new aid? In September 2015, the Commission announced the setting-up of a high-level group aimed at improving the functioning of the food supply chain to benefit producers. What progress has been made on this front? Bearing in mind the temporary and insufficient nature of these measures, including those provided for in Delegated Regulation 2015/1853, what action will the Commission take with a view to achieving a lasting solution that will restore the balance in the pigmeat market and enable producers to receive fair remuneration?

Answer given by Mr Hogan on behalf of the Commission Aid for private storage of pigmeat was opened by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2334 (1) of 14 December 2015 and closed by Commission after the vote in the Common Market Organisation Committee on 26 January 2016 (2). The measure had a favourable effect on the pigmeat market and consequently prices stabilised. Moreover, in the framework of the temporary exceptional aid to farmers in the livestock sectors (3), some of the Member States have allocated specific funds for their respective pigmeat

sector. With a view to help the European pigmeat sector and to open new export markets, the Commission and the Member States are actively tackling sanitary barriers with its trade partners. Finally, in September 2015 the Commission increased by EUR 30 million the EU funding available for cofinancing promotion programmes, an increase available only for pigmeat and dairy products (4). On the initiative of the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, the Agricultural Markets Task Force (5) was created on 12 January 2016. It had its kick-off meeting on 13 January. It is a Commission Expert Group consisting of 12 members chosen after a call for applications in accordance with their expertise and in their personal capacity. It is chaired by Mr Cees Veerman and has as mandate to look into the functioning of the food supply chain and to make recommendations for policy initiatives.

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(1) OJ L 329, 15.12.2015, p. 10–13 (2) http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/newsroom/252_en.htm (3) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1853 of 15 October 2015 providing for temporary exceptional aid to farmers in the livestock sectors, OJ L 271, 16.10.2015, p. 25–30 (4) Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 3/2008, OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 56– 70 in conjunction with the Work Programme for 2016 (http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/promotion/annual-workprogrammes/2016/commission-implementing-decision-annex_en.pdf) (5) http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/agri-markets-task-force/index_en.htm Lifting the ban on the trade in live pigs

Source: EP register – Date: 08/03/2016 Question for written answer to the Commission Monica Macovei

The trade in pork livestock and processed pork products from Romanian companies was banned on the EU market in 2003, because Romania was vaccinating pigs against swine fever. Four years later the Commission decided to extend this ban. There have been no cases of swine fever since 2007. The European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis, stated on 18 January 2016 that he is in favour of Romania resuming its intra-community exports of live pigs. Is the Commission planning to re-analyse this situation?

Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission

The classical swine fever (CSF) situation and the implementation of disease surveillance and control measures in Romania has shown a favourable evolution in recent years. A summary of the epidemiological situation for animal diseases in the EU can be found on the Commission’s webpage (1). The Commission will take into account this data and

other findings related to enforcement of measures by the competent authority in the up-coming review of Commission Implementing Decision 2013/764/EU concerning animal health control measures relating to classical swine fever in certain Member States (2). (1) For 2016: http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/adns/adns_outbreaks_per_disease_en.pdf ; for previous years: http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/adns/index_en.htm (2) OJ L 338 17.12.2013 p. 102. Romanian cattle exporters facing bankruptcy Source: EP register – Date: 22/03/2016 Question for written answer E-000776/2016 to the Commission Daniel Buda

Romanian livestock farmers and exporters are complaining that they are unable to market their products abroad despite assurances given on 12 December that restrictions relating to bovine spongiform encephalopathy testing would be lifted. Having received the go-ahead from the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) they began to sign contracts for deliveries abroad from January 2016. An initial reply from the Commission is to be followed by a further reply due in March 2016. In the meantime, the farmers

affected are hard-pressed for time since, if the restrictions are not lifted, something that cannot be done automatically, they face penalties for breach of contract. It is therefore a matter of urgency to resolve the problem if this is to be avoided. In view of this: What measures does the Commission consider possible to enable farmers to deliver their livestock abroad as soon as possible so as to avoid penalties for breach of contract?

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Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission There is no restriction in EU legislation on the export of live bovine animals from Romania to third countries. The negligible risk status for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) was officially recognised for Romania by the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) with effect from 8 December 2015 (1). There should thus be no

restriction to such exports. Furthermore, the procedure to modify Decision 2007/453/EC (2) to recognise Romania's negligible BSE risk status in EU law has been launched. Subject to a qualified majority of Member States voting in favour in the Standing Committee, the modification to Decision 2007/453/EC is expected to be formally adopted by the Commission and to enter into force in May 2016. The recognition of Romania's negligible BSE risk status at international level and in EU law will have no impact on the BSE testing requirements applicable to bovine animals in Romania. In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 (3), Romania's bovine animals slaughtered for human consumption must systematically be tested for BSE when they are above 30 months of age, and Romania's bovine animals of the "at risk" (4) category must systematically be tested for BSE when they are above 24 months of age. The revision of this BSE testing regime is subject to the criteria laid down in point 7 of Part I of Chapter A of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001, and is not connected to the BSE risk status of Romania. (1) http://www.oie.int/animal-health-in-the-world/official-disease-status/bse/lossreinstatement-of-status/ (2) Commission Decision 2007/453/EC of 29 June 2007 establishing the BSE status of Member States or third countries or regions thereof according to their BSE risk (OJ L 172, 30.6.2007, p. 84–86). (3) Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (OJ L 147, 31.5.2001, p. 1). (4) Bovine animals which have died or been killed during transport or on the farm, which were subject to emergency slaughtering for animal welfare reasons, or which showed clinical signs of a disease at ante mortem inspection in the slaughterhouses

YEMCo News

25 YEMCo Friends travelled to Asia for the YEMCo Spring Business Trip from 29TH FEBRUARY to 4TH MARCH 2016. They enjoyed a highly informative and fruitful visit. This is a short report of the trip. A full report will be released soon. Read more...

PUBLIC HEALTH – FOOD SAFETY

20 people receiving treatment after eating poisoned meat in Kenya

Source: Globat Meat News - Date: 01/03/2016 Around 20 people have been admitted to hospital at Mukutani dispensary in Kenya’s Baringo Central sub-country, after consuming what is suspected to be infected beef, according to Kenya’s The Star. Read more…

EU chance to slash antibiotic resistance is now or never

Source: The European Consumer Organisation - Date: 09/03/2016 The European Parliament can take action to curb antibiotic resistance in a key vote tomorrow1. The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) urges MEPs to make sure farmers

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only give antibiotics to sick animals, not to healthy ones. Antibiotic resistance goes beyond European borders. Consumers International, the global voice of consumers, is now calling on fast food chains to stop the sale of meat raised with the routine use of antibiotics important to human medicine. Several BEUC members have joined the movement by lobbying the EU branches of the targeted fast food outlets and are raising awareness among consumers of the dangers of using antibiotics for healthy animals. Read more… EU law on medicated feed will reduce antibiotic resistance in livestock and humans

Source: Socialists & Democrats - Date: 15/03/2016 New rules on medicated feed will harmonise standards across Europe and improve both human and animal health through a more responsible use of medicines, especially antibiotics.The agriculture committee in the European Parliament today backed a report on the issue from S&D MEP Clara Aguilera. The Parliament will now negotiate a final text

with the Council of the EU while ensuring coherence with the recently passed laws on animal health and veterinary medicines. Read more…

Food safety

Source: EP register – Date: 04/03/2016 Question for written answer to the Commission Roberta Metsola

The United States is currently implementing the FDA Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA) 2011, which reforms US food safety laws. Can the Commission provide information on whether this reform of US food safety laws in any way affects EU businesses which import food products from the US? Can the Commission also provide information on whether this reform of US food safety laws has brought about an approximation of US food safety standards to those of the EU?

Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission

The Commission is following closely the development of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) implementing rules. These rules are of significance to all US trading partners, including the EU; in particular, the rule on Foreign Supplier Verification Programmes (FSVP) and the rule on Third Party Accreditation which set out the

regulatory framework for the importation into the US of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-regulated foods. The FSVP requires each importer to establish a documented program of controls to ensure the safety of imported foods and identifies a range of verification activities. The rule also includes provisions on comparable or equivalent food safety systems. It sets out the procedures to achieve such status and also the practical implications for importation procedures. In essence, products imported from countries with comparable systems would be exempt from many of the FSVP general requirements. To this end, the Commission is currently embarking on an exercise of systems recognition with the FDA. If completed successfully, this should have the effect of lessening the potentially onerous effects of the FSVP. Whilst FSMA and its implementing rules share some similar aspects with EU food safety legislation, such as the central position of the food business operator in ensuring food safety or mandatory preventive controls for all food facilities, it was not produced with the intent of approximating US law with that of the EU. The aforementioned systems recognition exercise will attempt to find the commonalities in the two systems that will lead to a finding of equivalence or comparability.

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The additive BHA in animal feeds

Source: EP register – Date: 07/03/2016 Question for written answer E-016122/2015 to the Commission Giulia Moi

Butylated hydroxyanisole (also known as BHA or E320) is a food additive used as an antioxidant and preservative in animal feeds. In 2011, the EFSA established that combined levels of exposure to the substance exceed the acceptable daily dose for many test groups. The Department of Health and Human Services of the United States, in its report on carcinogens published in October 2014, deemed it ‘reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogen’. Studies show that the presence of BHA in the diet of some animals produces

certain types of tumour. Some big dog food brands use this additive, which has a generally harmful effect on dogs’ metabolisms and could lead to tumours forming more quickly than in humans. In view of this, can the Commission state: Whether it believes it should bring forward the review of this substance for animal consumption? What initiatives it has adopted to reduce the presence of these additives, including in products intended for human consumption? Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) was authorised as feed additive by Directive 70/5241 and, as an existent product, was subject to the condition of Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/20032. An application and related dossier were submitted to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2010. At present the additive is under EFSA assessment.

When it is completed, a draft Regulation will be proposed to the Member States for vote and the decision on this additive will be adopted by the Commission. Concerning the currently authorized use of BHA (E 320) as a food additive in the Union, EFSA concluded in 2011 that exposure estimates to BHA for children and the adult population at both the average and high level exposures are unlikely to exceed the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 1.0 mg/kg bw/day. In follow-up, EFSA published a more refined exposure assessment4 in 2012 concluding that exposure to BHA from its use as food additive does not exceed the ADI for most groups of the population on average and generally does not exceed the ADI for adults at high level exposure (except in one country, Germany). EFSA indicates that its estimates should be considered to be conservative as it is assumed that all foods contain BHA added at the maximum permitted levels. Moreover, since BHA is used to prevent oxidation of fats, the exposure assessment also assumes very high fat contents in several food categories where the addition of BHA is authorised. Consequently, the Commission has not taken any initiative to reduce the use of BHA as a food additive. Food infections in the European Union

Source: EP register – Date: 18/03/2016 Question for written answer E-000608/2016 to the Commission Maria Grapini

According reports by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), food infections in the European Union have increased compared to previous years. It appears that listeriosis in humans has been on the increase in EU Member States since 2008. Listeria monocytogenes infections can be particularly serious for the elderly and those with weakened immunity and cause more deaths than other food infections. The incidence of Campylobacteriosis, which continues to

be the food infection most frequently registered in the EU, has also increased in the EU Member States in recent years. In view of this: What action will the Commission take to reduce these food-borne infections and ensure greater food safety for all EU citizens?

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Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission The Commission has taken due note of the trends presented in the "The European Union summary report on trends and sources of zoonoses, zoonotic agents and food-borne outbreaks in 2014 (1) " by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The Commission shares in particular concerns over the increase of human cases of campylobacteriosis

and listeriosis. As regards Campylobacter, the Commission started exchanges of views with Member States and private stakeholders on additional control measures in poultry, this being the most important source of infection. A process hygiene criterion on poultry carcases and enhanced poultry meat inspection for this pathogen are under consideration. As regards Listeria, the Commission has asked EFSA to provide an opinion on the safety and efficiency of using a bacteriophage against this pathogen on ready-to-eat products of animal origin. If safe and efficient, the authorisation will be considered. The Commission will further monitor the trends and consider additional steps if needed. (1) http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/4329

FVO INSPECTION REPORTS

Country Audit

number Title

Audit Period

Brazil

2015-7639

evaluate the operation of controls over the production of fresh horse meat and meat products intended for export to the European Union, including monitoring of residues and contaminants as well as certification procedures

Sep 2015

Report details

Sweden 2015-7512

evaluate the control of residues and contaminants in live animals and animal products including controls on veterinary medicinal products

Jun 2015

Report details

Control Body 2015-7409

organic production standards and control measures applied by a recognised Control Body operating in Ukraine and Belarus

May-Jun 2015

Report details

Lithuania 2015-7618

implementation of the requirements for representatives of third country establishments that export feed to the EU

Sep 2015

Report details

Netherlands 2015-7417

animal welfare Sep 2015

Report details

China 2015-7640

Genetically Modified Organisms Nov 2015

Report details

Sweden 2015-7422

Animal welfare Oct 2015

Report details

Hungary 2015-7568

Animal Health Sep 2015

Report details

Israel 2015-7353

Organic production Nov 2015

Report details

France 2015- Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Oct Report

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Country Audit

number Title

Audit Period

7413 Geographical Indications (PGI) and Traditional Specialities Guaranteed (TSG) for agricultural products and foodstuffs

2015 details

Portugal 2015-7442

evaluate the application of re-enforced checks on imported products of animal origin

Sep 2015

Report details

Australia 2015-7528

evaluate the control of residues and contaminants in live animals and animal products including controls on veterinary medicinal products

Nov 2015

Report details

Netherlands 2015-7564

Animal Health Nov 2015

Report details

Lithuania 2015-7365

Organic Products Sep 2015

Report details

EFSA

Is Europe’s food safe? Come along and find out. 26 April 2016 New grant opportunity: emerging food risks, mycotoxin mixtures, animal diseases 1 April 2016 EFSA in 2015: working in the interest of European consumers 31 March 2016 Study identifies key topics for future work in food safety 31 March 2016 68th Management Board meeting: Board adopts EFSA’s Strategy 2020, discusses new stakeholder engagement approach and EFSA’s independence policy Corporate, Management Board 16 March 2016 How to communicate during a food crisis – EFSA shares guidelines 15 March 2016 Revisiting EFSA@EXPO: Advancing scientific risk assessment in the area of food safety – what needs to be done? 11 March 2016 EFSA re-publishes 2012 and 2013 reports on zoonoses: updated data 10 March 2016

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ANIMAL HEALTH & ANIMAL WELFARE

Europeans want farm animal welfare

Source: Global Meat News - Date: 16/03/2016 An overwhelming majority of European citizens want the political establishment to do more to improve the welfare of animals slaughtered for human consumption, according to a public opinion survey by Eurobarometer. Read more…

Slaughter without stunning: GAIA reveals new images of violations of the law

Source: GAIA - Date: 18/03/2016 GAIA presented a special press preview of its investigative video of the slaughter of sheep and cattle both with and without prior stunning. Some of the footage testifies to the intense suffering of animals slaughtered without stunning, victims of the flagrant violation of applicable laws protecting animals at the time of slaughter. GAIA reminds politicians that the only solution to minimize animal

suffering is to mandate prior stunning before slaughter, whether on temporary or fixed sites, and at all times. The video starts with the slaughter of sheep carried out on an illegal temporary site set up last year for the Muslim feast of sacrifice, filmed in the Brussels-Capital Region, in Anderlecht and Molenbeek. Read more… BSE-infected cow dies in France

Source: Global Meat News - Date: 24/03/2016 A cow with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has died in France, making it the third detected case of the fatal virus in Europe since 2015, according to the French government. Read more… EU silent on Brazil horsemeat ban

Source: Global Meat News - Date: 07/03/2016 The EU has remained silent on whether it will ban Brazilian exports of horsemeat destined for Europe, following evidence of animal abuse in the supply chain. Read more… MEPs move to tackle animal diseases

Source: Euractiv - Date: 29/03/2016 MEPs have agreed on a package of measures that is intended to combat animal epidemics, while at the same time maintaining animal welfare. EurActiv Italy reports. The European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee has approved a draft regulation, informally agreed upon by MEPs and the European Council in 2015, which lays out new measures that are intended to prevent and tackle animal epidemics that could potentially be transmitted to humans. The text focuses on prevention, emergency measures and responsibility. Read more...

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Animal welfare - conditions in European abattoirs

Source: EP register – Date: 07/03/2016 Question for written answer E-015788/2015 to the Commission Georg Mayer

The ÖRF magazine programme Thema has broadcast a worrying report on conditions in Austrian abattoirs. According to statements by many NGOs and experts, appalling conditions prevail all across Europe, under which animals are compelled to undergo enormous suffering. According to information from the EU Commission, 75% of all animals slaughtered in Europe are slaughtered while fully conscious. Animal welfare regulations in this regard are frequently breached, as no controls exist whatsoever. It is therefore

important to establish control mechanisms and thus guarantee that animal welfare is maintained. Does the Commission have access to data that would enable Member States to be identified that permit animals to be slaughtered without being stunned and/or tolerate such slaughtering due to a lack of controls? Does the Commission intend to issue a proposal for a Directive or Regulation that would provide an effective and lasting guarantee of animal welfare, specifically in abattoirs? Does the Commission have plans for a certificate that would ensure that animals were slaughtered while fully unconscious?

Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission The Commission has never stated nor has information supporting the allegation that 75% of all animals slaughtered in Europe are slaughtered while fully conscious. Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing1 requires that animals shall only be killed after stunning and that the loss of consciousness and sensibility shall be maintained until the death of the animal.

Article 4(4) of the Regulation permits slaughter without prior stunning in the context of particular methods of slaughter prescribed by religious rites, provided that it takes place in a slaughterhouse. Member States are primarily responsible for the application and enforcement of Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009. Official controls for this purpose are carried out by Member States in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 882/20042. According to the Commission's knowledge, most Member States allow slaughter without stunning under the derogation laid down in Article 4(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 but according to various modalities. Its use has to be justified for religious reasons and slaughter under it has to be performed in accordance with applicable rules laid down elsewhere in the Regulation. As regards the justification of the derogation under Article 4(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009, the Commission would refer to its reply to written question E-009185/20143. The Commission has no intention to propose changes to the legislation in this regard. As regards the possibility of identifying that the meat is obtained from animals slaughtered without stunning, the Commission would refer to its reply to written question E-013629/2015. (1) OJ L 303, 18.11.2009, p. 1. (2) Regulation on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law,animal health and animal welfare rules, OJ L 165, 30.4.2004, p. 1. (3) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/parliamentary-questions.html

Applying EU animal welfare regulations to third-country livestock keepers

Source: EP register – Date: 09/03/2016 Question for written answer to the Commission Norbert Erdős A comparison of various legal systems shows that the strictest animal welfare requirements in the world are currently in the EU, which means that the EU serves as an example in this area. EU livestock keepers face a serious competitiveness problem because in many third world countries, livestock keepers have to comply with much less stringent requirements,

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which unfairly allows them to sell their products in the EU internal market at much lower prices. We have to require the people who export animal products into the EU to keep animals during the production of the given product in accordance with requirements that are the equivalent of the EU regulations. In my opinion, since the equivalence requirement is not defined with sufficient precision, many livestock keepers can easily bypass compliance with these stringent regulations. It is for this reason that requirements matching EU regulations must also be stipulated in third world countries. 1 - What, according to current practice, does the EU expect of negotiating partners in regard to animal welfare when conducting international free-trade negotiations? 2 - How does the Commission plan to make compliance with equivalent animal welfare requirements more effective in third world countries? 3 - What specific examples can the Commission give of import bans on certain third world country animal products owing to a violation of animal welfare regulations? Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission

Technical collaboration on animal welfare is systematically included in bilateral negotiations in the context of Free Trade Agreements with non-EU countries. Such cooperation aims at reaching a shared understanding on internationally agreed animal welfare standards and promotes standards equivalent to those of the EU. The World Trade Organization (WTO) framework covers animal welfare issues in relation

to animal health. Any animal welfare standards imposed by the EU on trading partners would need to comply with WTO law, e.g. requirements on non-discrimination between countries where the same conditions prevail, transparency and a science-based approach. The Commission supports the work of the World Organisation for Animal Health in developing international standards on animal welfare. Furthermore, the Commission closely collaborates with its main trading partners and global stakeholders to provide the technical knowledge and capacity, through the Better Training for Safer Food Program (1) (BTSF), to implement high standards in animal welfare. Compliance with requirements at least equivalent to those laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 (2)on the protection of animals at the time of killing is currently required under that Regulation for the import of meat into the EU from non-EU countries. To date, no specific legislation to prohibit imports of animal products from non-EU countries has been put in place on animal welfare grounds. (1) http://ec.europa.eu/food/training_strategy/index_en.htm (2) OJ L 303, 18.11.2009, p. 1.

Case of avian influenza in France

Source: EP register – Date: 14/03/2016 Question for written answer to the Commission Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso On Wednesday, 25 November, the French Ministry of Agriculture discovered a case of avian influenza at a farm in the Dordogne department, the first in the country in eight years. France has activated its national health emergency plan, as set out in European and international legislation, and established a watch zone within a radius of 10 km of the affected farm. This comes just after the detection of other cases of potentially highly

contagious animal diseases in Europe: three outbreaks of serotype 4 bluetongue virus in Austria and another case of bluetongue at a cattle farm in Slovenia. Does the Commission consider the measures put in place by France to be sufficient to contain this outbreak of avian influenza? Does the Commission consider new measures to be needed to manage such crises, given these recent outbreaks of bluetongue and avian influenza in Europe?

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Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission France applies the measures provided for in Directive 2005/94/EC (1) on the control of avian influenza (AI), including immediate stamping-out of poultry on holdings where an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza is confirmed and the controls and restrictions required to be implemented in the established protection and surveillance zones. This Directive, which is based on up-to-date science and

experience with major AI outbreaks, lays down minimum measures for the prevention, control and eradication of AI, while allowing Member States to adapt certain measures to their specific epidemiological situation. France, in view of the evolving and complex disease situation and the predominant duck production in the affected area, has established a large “further restricted zone” as provided for in the Directive, which encompasses the required protection and surveillance zones. Movements of live poultry out of that further restricted zone are prohibited with the exception of authorised secured movements of day-old chicks and hatching eggs. The protective measures against bluetongue, present in the European Union (EU) over the past 15 years, are well established in European Union legislation (2) and the Commission provides EU cofinancing for the bluetongue surveillance and control (mainly through vaccination) programmes implemented by the Member States. Nevertheless, should the need arise, legal tools and procedures are in place for the Commission to review the policies already in place in the light of scientific advice mainly provided by the European Food Safety Authority, in order to cope with changes in the overall epidemiological situation in the European Union. (1) Council Directive 2005/94/EC of 20 December 2005 on Community measures for the control of avian influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC (OJ L 10, 14.1.2006, p. 16). (2) Council Directive 2000/75/EC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007 Continued failure by Member States to enforce compliance during live animal exports to third countries

Source: EP register – Date: 04/03/2016 Question for written answer to the Commission Stelios Kouloglou

A judgment by the European Court of Justice in the ‘Zuchtvieh’ case rules that when animals are exported to countries outside the EU, Regulation 1/2005 continues to apply even after the animals have left the EU. According to the ruling, Competent Authorities should make sure that they only approve exports that show how the regulation will be complied with throughout the journey. Currently Member States are not doing enough to factor in lack of compliance in third countries when approving exports. For example, cattle exported to Turkey are often delayed in customs at the border for several days. They are

held on trucks in appalling conditions in high temperatures without proper access to water. The consignments are not given a 24-hour rest before leaving the EU despite exporters being aware of these risks. These delays put the consignments in serious breach of Regulation 1/2005 and cause immense suffering. Will the Commission make an official recommendation to the Member States directing them on the application of the judgment, especially in cases where widespread failure to comply with Regulation 1/2005 is a known problem? What additional measures does the Commission intend to take to ensure enforcement of the ECJ judgment? Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission

The Commission is working to support Member States in bringing the application of the EU Regulation on the protection of animals during transport (1) in line with the judgement given by the Court of Justice of the European Union (2) in April 2015 on animal transport. The Court ruled in this judgment that, in case of a long journey of animals from the territory of the EU to a third country, certain provisions of the EU

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Regulation have to be complied with, including in the stages of the journey taking place outside the EU. The Commission has discussed the issue of live animal exports with EU Member States on several occasions. Member States' obligations concerning long journeys of animals to non-EU countries and the importance of performing a careful risk assessment to strengthen the official controls were last discussed at the meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed in November 2015. Furthermore, EU Member States, through their National Contact Points for animal welfare during transport (3), at their December 2015 meeting identified the need to work and cooperate on intensified checks and better contingency planning on this type of transport. The Commission will explore the most suitable ways to facilitate this process. The Commission also refers the Honourable Member to the reply to question E-014583/15 (4). (1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 (OJ L 3, 5.1.2005, p. 1). (2) Judgment in Case C-424/13 Zuchtvieh-Export, available at: http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=163872&pageIndex=0&doclang=en&mode=req&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=303901, paragraphs 50 to 52 and 56. (3) This network was established on the basis of Article 24 of Regulation 1/2005 which requires mutual assistance and exchanges of information between Member States and a contact point to facilitate these exchanges. (4) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/parliamentary-questions.html

IMAGE OF MEAT

A Lesson for Highland Education Secretary: Less Meat is a Good Thing

Source: PETA - Date: 15/03/2016 Edinburgh – PETA is setting the Highland Secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) straight. In a letter sent this morning to Bob Colman, the group shares 10 reasons why it’s good for kids to go meat-free, from improving students’ health to helping the environment to saving animals from immense suffering. PETA has also sent letters to Highland schools, offering to provide them with free vegan starter kits to help

facilitate the transition. The letter comes on the heels of reports that Colman blasted recent plans to save money by swapping meat for nutrient-rich legumes in Highland schools’ cafeterias, describing them as “no good news”. Read more…

FOOD LABELLING AND QUALITY New investigation into the shocking origin of horse meat in Belgian supermarkets Source: GAIA - Date: 08/03/2016

Animal rights organisation GAIA has published the overwhelming findings of a recent investigation conducted in Argentina and Uruguay on the trade in horse meat for export to the EU and Belgium. It was conducted by Tierschutzbund Zürich and the Animal Welfare Foundation (TSB/ AWF), both partners of GAIA. "Once more, we have proof that the path taken by horse meat winding up on the tables of Belgian

consumers is nothing but a succession of abuse, neglect and fraud," commented the President of GAIA, Michel Vandenbosch. "We've had enough! It’s about time that all supermarkets stop selling horse meat, especially from (Latin) America." Read more…

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Seven EU states oppose British traffic light labelling

Source: Global Meat News - Date: 21/03/2016 The European Commission should not accept the voluntary ‘traffic light’ food labelling system used in the UK, seven EU member states have argued. Read more… MEPs reiterate call for mandatory country of origin labelling of meat and milk

Source: EP - Date: 22/03/2016 Food safety MEPs reiterated their support for introducing mandatory country of origin labelling of meat and milk, in a non-binding resolution voted on Tuesday. Mandatory labelling would help maintain consumer confidence in food products by making the food supply chain more transparent, they say. The motion for a resolution restates Parliament's position in favour of mandatory labelling of the country of origin or place of provenance of meat in processed foods. MEPs add that this labelling should also be made mandatory for meat other than that of bovine, porcine, ovine and caprine species and poultry meat, for milk and milk used as an ingredient in dairy products, for unprocessed foods, single-ingredient products and for ingredients that make up more than 50% of a food. Read more... Russian retailers call for legalisation of up to 1% foreign DNA in meats

Source: Global Meat News - Date: 23/03/2016 Russia’s Association of Retail Trade Companies has appealed to the government to legalise the content of foreign DNA in meat products at a level not higher than 1%, according to a spokesperson from the organisation Svetlana Chebareva. Read more…

Altering ‘best before’ dates on products with a long shelf life in order to prevent food waste Source: EP register – Date: 02/03/2016

Question for written answer to the Commission Ivo Belet Up to one third of European consumers confuse ‘best before’ labels with labels indicating ‘use by’ dates, which are placed on highly perishable foods. In order to prevent food waste, it would be possible to abolish ‘best before’ labels on products with a very long shelf life. As long ago as 2012, the European Parliament called on the Commission, in a resolution, to clarify the meaning of the two labels and investigate other forms of labelling (1). In 2014,

various Member States called for amendments to the annexes to Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 in order to amplify the list of products with very long shelf lives (2). These products are not required to bear a ‘best before’ label. In response to the request by the Member States, the Commission proposed setting up a working party to formulate proposals by the end of 2015. At the two meetings of the experts' group, date labelling was discussed (3). What were the findings of the working party concerning date labelling, and when can we expect proposals? Can the labelling change be considered in conjunction with definite proposals concerning the circular economy, which are also intended to include measures against food waste? (1) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+TA+P7-TA-2012-0014+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN (2) http://register.consilium.europa.eu/doc/srv?l=EN&f=ST%209755%202014%20INIT (3) http://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/food_waste/eu_actions/member_states/index_en.htm Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission

With respect to the Commission's work on date marking in relation to food waste prevention, the Commission would invite the Honourable Member to consult its dedicated webpage (1) as well as its replies to E-009003/2015, E-010110/2014, E-

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007728/2014 and E-007585/2014 (2). The possible extension of the list of foods currently exempt from "best before" labelling (3) is under consideration by the Commission taking into account feedback from Member States (4) and stakeholders as well as findings from recent studies (5) on consumers' perception and use of date marking. As part of the EU action plan for the Circular Economy (6), the Commission will explore options for more effective use and understanding of date marking on food in close co-operation with Member States and stakeholders. The Commission is reflecting on the scope for further research on EU date marking practices in order to help inform policy making in this regard. It is important to ensure that any proposed changes to date marking meet consumer information needs, ensure consumer safety and contribute to food waste prevention. (1) http://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/food_waste/eu_actions/date_marking/index_en.htm (2) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/parliamentary-questions.html (3) Annex X of the Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, OJ L 304, 22.11.2011, p. 18 (4) http://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/food_waste/eu_actions/member_states/docs/20141107_sum_tor_en.pdf (5) Flash Eurobarometer on date marking and food waste, October 2015 http://ec.europa.eu/COMMFrontOffice/PublicOpinion/index.cfm/Survey/getSurveyDetail/instruments/FLASH/s urveyKy/2095; Milan BExpo 2015: A behavioural study on food choices and eating habits, October 2015 http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/consumer_evidence/behavioural_research/docs/bexpo_milan_final_report_we bsite_en.pdf (6) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of Regions; "Closing the loop-an EU action plan for the Circular Economy". COM(2015)614 final. GM and antibiotic materials in imported animal feed and the need for food labelling

Source: EP register – Date: 04/03/2016 Question for written answer to the Commission José Inácio Faria Antibiotic resistance has been described as ‘a looming public health crisis’. European consumers are concerned about GM materials being introduced into the human food chain. In spite of this, the matter is not taken as seriously as it should be: In a response to Question E-008334-15, the Commission admits that it ‘does not possess information on what proportion of the imported DDGS is GM’. Responding to Question E-008332-15, the

Commission accepted that antibiotic residues have been found in DDGS imported into the EU for use as animal feed. Is the Commission aware of the challenges that EU producers face in sourcing feed that is non-GM and antibiotic free for livestock and poultry? Does the Commission recognise the concerns of consumers regarding the increased level of antibiotics and GM materials entering the human food chain in the EU, and what if any steps has the Commission taken to ensure that: The inspection of all imported feedstock material meets the standards required to ensure that the compounders of animal feeds use only GM and antibiotic free material, and that foods which have been produced using GM material or material that may contain antibiotic residues are labelled accordingly? Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission

According to the EU legislation (1), Genetically Modified (GM) food and feed can be placed on the EU market, subject to an authorisation which can be granted only when a strict risk assessment has demonstrated their safety. This legislation foresees compulsory labelling for authorised GM food and feed. The Commission is aware of the

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challenges EU producers face in sourcing non-GM feed for livestock. In particular, quantities of non-GM soya – which is a major source of proteins for animal feed – available on international markets are insufficient to meet the needs of the EU. The Commission recognises the concerns of EU consumers as regards GM food. A Special Eurobarometer survey on biotechnology published in 2010 indicated that EU citizens do not see GM food as offering benefits and are not in favour of its development (2). In April 2015, the Commission proposed (3) giving the possibility to Member States to restrict or prohibit the use of GM food and feed in their territory for reasons other than risks to health or the environment. It is the competence of the Member States to carry out inspections ensuring that food and feed placed on the market complies with the EU legislation. The number of analyses for specific feed materials taken by the Competent Authorities is not known by the Commission. However, positive findings have to be notified to the RASFF (4). Since the first detection of antibiotic residues in bio-ethanol by-products at EU borders in 2008, the Commission alerted Member States to pay particular attention to residues of antimicrobials. Since then, nine consignments with excessive levels of an antibiotic have been notified and withdrawn from the market. In a recent targeted screening in France, no positive batches were detected. (1) Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on genetically modified food and feed (OJ L 268, 18.10.2003, p. 1). (2) http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf (3) Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council, COM/2015/0177 final - 2015/0093 (COD). (4) Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed.

ENVIRONMENT / SUSTAINABILITY

FoodWaste: Regions and cities to join EU platform to reduce food waste

Source: EU Reporter - Date: 02/03/2016 “How much food does the average European household throw away every year, and how can we make better use of food that has been produced?” This was one of the main subjects of a discussion with European Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, responsible for health and food safety, held by the European Committee of the Regions at the 7th meeting of its Commission for Natural

Resources (NAT) on 1 March. This question is also the theme of the working document on food waste drawn up by Ossi Martikainen (FI/ALDE), local councillor of Lapinlahti and member of the European Committee of the Regions. Read more… Climate Action: Europe readies next steps to implement the Paris Agreement

Source: European Commission - Date: 02/03/2016 Today, the European Commission presented an assessment of the implications for the European Union of the new global climate agreement adopted in Paris in December 2015. The assessment looks at the next steps in the process and how the Paris Agreement will be implemented in the EU. The assessment is also accompanied by a proposal for the European Union to sign the Paris Agreement. Read more… South Africa’s drought depletes livestock count

Source: Global Meat News - Date: 02/03/2016 South Africa’s livestock numbers are feeling the effects of the country’s most severe drought in over a century. Read more…

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Circular economy: New Regulation to boost the use of organic and waste-based fertilisers

Source: European Commission - Date: 17/03/2016 The re-use of raw materials that are now disposed of as waste is one of the key principles of the Circular Economy Package adopted in December 2015. Today the Commission is proposing a Regulation which will significantly ease the access of organic and waste-based fertilisers to the EU single market, bringing them on a level playing field with traditional, non-organic fertilisers. This will create new market

opportunities for innovative companies while at the same time reducing waste, energy consumption and environmental damage. Read more… Should we be feeding food waste to livestock?

Source: Environmental News Network - Date: 30/03/2016 Food waste is a huge global problem. About a third of the food produced globally for human consumption, approximately 1.3 billion tons each year, is wasted or lost, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Food losses in industrialized countries add up to roughly $680 billion, with $310 billion in losses in developing countries. Produce (fruits and vegetables plus roots and tubers) have the highest rates of waste. Taiwan has a simple solution to reduce food waste: Feed it to livestock. The Guardian reports that Taiwan is “one of a handful of countries that have institutionalized the practice” of feeding food scraps to livestock. About two-third’s of the country’s food waste is fed to its 5.5 million pigs. Pigs are Taiwan’s biggest source of meat. Read more… Need for a social dimension to the development of the circular economy

Source: EP register – Date: 04/03/2016 Question for written answer to the Commission Claudia Tapardel, Daciana Octavia Sârbu, Viorica Dăncilă The amount of food being wasted is reaching alarming proportions across the EU. Every year, over 100 million tonnes of food go to waste, in a manner that brings no benefit to society or to farmers. Since 2011 — when the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe was drawn up — there has been a constant increase in food wastage. This trend is set to continue and, by 2025, 120 tonnes of food will be wasted each year. What guarantees can the Commission offer as to how efficient the circular economy programme will be in terms of reducing food waste by half by 2030? Is there a social dimension to that programme? How much of the total budget of over EUR 6 billion earmarked for the circular economy programme will be invested directly in social programmes for the distribution and redistribution of foodstuffs? Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission

The EU and its Member States are committed to meeting the food waste reduction target adopted by the United Nations General Assembly as part of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)(1). In order to support achievement of the SDG target on food waste and to maximise the contribution of all actors, the Commission will create a

dedicated Platform on food waste prevention to share best practice and evaluate progress made over time. These commitments are reflected in the EU action plan for the Circular Economy (2) and related waste legislation proposal (3). While the Circular Economy Action plan does not include specific "social programmes" as referred to by the Honourable Member, its implementation will stimulate sustainable activity in key sectors and new business opportunities, thereby contributing to growth and job creation. In regard to initiatives put forward to prevent food waste and facilitate food redistribution, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its reply to E-014144/2015 (4) and to its website dedicated to food waste prevention (5).

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(1) Halve per capita food waste at retail and consumer level and reduce food losses along the food production and supply chains by 2030 http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-consumption-production/ (2) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Closing the loop - An EU action plan for the Circular Economy - COM/2015/0614 final (3) Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste (2015/0275 (COD)) (4) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/parliamentary-questions.html (5) http://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/food_waste/index_en.htm

Is Europe's freshwater use sustainable? Source: EEA - Date: 21/03/2016 We need freshwater for human consumption and economic activities such as food production and industry, but does Europe manage this valuable resource in a sustainable way? An indicator assessment published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) today on World Water Day takes a look at the use of freshwater resources across Europe. The EEA indicator assessment 'Use of freshwater resources' shows that while water is generally abundant in Europe, water scarcity and droughts continue to affect some regions, especially those that are densely populated and have high demands for water from agriculture and tourism during the summer. Read more...

PDF Plans to call for a reduction in cattle numbers

Source: EP register – Date: 15/03/2016 Question for written answer E-000591/2016 to the Commission Bronis Ropė Cattle breeders’ organisations in some Member States have lately learned from unofficial sources that the Commission, struggling with the quantity of carbon dioxide and methane emissions, intends to lay down a requirement to reduce cattle herds in the period from 2020 to 2030, the reduction amounting in certain individual cases to as much as a third compared with the present numbers. What foundation is there to the reports concerning the

requirements to apply for the years 2020 to 2030 or in any other period, whereby cattle herds reared on Member States’ farms will have to be reduced? Does that information correspond to the Commission’s plans? If it is in fact the case that farmed cattle herds will have to be smaller, can the Commission supply reliable information and say what will be the percentages involved and in which particular Member States it will impose a requirement to reduce herd numbers? Answer given by Mr Hogan on behalf of the Commission

The European Council of 24 October 2014 agreed on the climate and energy framework for the period 2020-2030, endorsing a binding EU target of at least 40% domestic reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 compared to 1990. The European Council Conclusions state that the target will be delivered collectively by the EU in the most cost-effective manner possible and that all Member States will participate in this effort,

balancing considerations of fairness and solidarity. It also stated that "the multiple objectives of the agriculture and land use sector, with their lower mitigation potential, should be acknowledged, as well as the need to ensure coherence between the EU's food security and climate change objectives." The Commission is currently assessing various policy options on how to include these indications into the concrete 2030 legislative framework. There is therefore no intention or "plan" to lay down a requirement

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to reduce cattle herds in the period from 2020 to 2030 in the EU. Several possibilities exist for livestock to reduce GHG emissions while enhancing production and the provision of important environmental services. The Common Agricultural Policy provides already several policy instruments that encourage the sector to improve its GHG performance without harming food production. It is also important to note the significant contribution made to date by EU agriculture (including livestock farming) in reducing non-CO2 emissions (approx. 24% since 1990). This reduction has not reduced EU agricultural output, due to improvement in efficiency while also helping contribute to improved EU air and water quality (reduced Nitrogen loses).

RESEARCH & INNOVATION

Innovation ‘vital’ to meet growing protein demand

Source: Global Meat News - Date: 18/03/2016 Empowering meat producers and farmers with the latest technology is key to meet soaring demand for meat, which is expected to rise in conjunction to the global population, according to a new study. Read more… EU-funded FOODINTEGRITY

The EU-funded FOODINTEGRITY project will be hosting its two-day 2016 annual conference on the latest research outputs on developments and strategies in the field of food integrity in Prague. New EU Finance Opportunities for SMEs and Technological Innovation Ahead Source:IEB - Date: 31/03/2016 At the “Innovative Enterprise Conference” in The Hague, the creation of a new EU Securitisation Instrument for European banks was announced by Commissioner Carlos Moedas, EIF Chief Executive Pier Luigi Gilibert and EIB Vice-President Pim van Ballekom. On the same occasion, a report on access to finance for companies working with “Key Enabling Technologies” was presented. The European Commission, European Investment Fund (EIF) and European Investment Bank (EIB) have launched the SME Initiative Securitisation Instrument (SISI) that will enable more lending to SMEs at favourable pricing conditions. Read more... VAT

EU launches feasibility Study on the Development of an EU VAT web portal

The Directorate General of Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) of the EU Commission has published a study on developments of an EU VAT web portal and its implications are on-going. There is a survey which asks potential users about the requirements/prioritization of information points and functionalities. Link: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/VAT_Portal_UserSurvey INTERNATIONAL TRADE South Africa opens door to US pork

Source: Global Meat News - Date: 01/03/2016 The United States’ National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has welcomed the news that South Africa is now accepting pork exports from the US. Read more…

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Final details on CETA − Liberal success of Justin Trudeau and Cecilia Malmström

Source: ALDE Group - Date: 01/03/2016 ALDE welcomes that the final details have been worked out of the trade agreement between Canada and the EU, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

(CETA). The text has been undergoing a legal check for more than a year and now the procedure for ratification can finally start. Read more… Press release from the ECR political party on EU-CETA Agreement: Click HERE European Parliament supports FTA talks with New Zealand

Source: Tax News - Date: 13/03/2016 New Zealand's Trade Minister, Todd McClay, has welcomed the support of the European Parliament to commence negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with New Zealand. McClay said that the resolution won the support of 479 Members of the European Parliament, 77 percent of the 619 who voted. "The importance of completing an FTA with the EU cannot be understated," McClay said. "It has progressively expanded its own FTA network and our exporters have become increasingly disadvantaged – for example, manufactured products face tariffs of up to 39 percent." He added that New Zealand's agricultural exporters face average tariff rates into the EU of 31.3 percent, while competitors from countries like Chile, Singapore, South Africa, Argentina, Vietnam, and Korea enter the EU tariff-free. MERCOSUR ready to exchange trade offers with the EU in April

Source: EurActiv - Date: 13/03/2016 The EU and the Mercosur trade bloc are ready to exchange trade proposals in April and revive stalled talks to open their economies, Argentina’s Secretary of Trade, Miguel Braun, told EurActiv.com during a visit to Brussels to meet his counterpart. Mercosur is the EU’s eighth-largest trade partner, while the EU is Mercosur’s largest investor. The two blocs officially relaunched frozen trade negotiations (which started in 1999), at a summit in Madrid in May, 2010, and the objective since then has been to negotiate a comprehensive deal. Read more...

EU’s Commissioner for Trade visits Washington D.C.

The EU’s Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström recently met with the United States (US) Trade Representative, Michael Froman. One of the main focuses of their talks was on Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). They reviewed past successful negotiations and on-going debates and discussed how to organize and develop upcoming rounds. On 10th March 2016, she also made a speech at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington D.C. and stressed that cooperation from the EU and the US is critical not only in signing TTIP, but also for the work at the WTO. Link: Read more... The Commission publishes further TTIP documents in ongoing transparency commitment

Source: European Comission - Date: 21/03/2016 The European Commission today publishes further documents from the ongoing negotiations on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), in line with its commitment to enhanced transparency in the ongoing trade negotiations with the United States. The documents made public today include the recent EU proposal on regulatory cooperation which the Commission submitted to the United States during the last round of talks in February. Regulatory cooperation is an innovative part and a key

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pillar of TTIP. Regulatory cooperation with the United States has been on the agenda for many years and has produced good results in areas of common interest (e.g. ranging from aviation and marine safety to organic labels, electric cars and smart grids). Read more… How TPP, TTIP and agriculture are shaping EU Japan trade talks

Source: Bilaterals.org - Date: 15/03/2016 The factors that shape EU trade policy are many. But among those that shape most actual and current negotiation dynamics in the EU Japan FTA negotiations, which started in 2013, a few months before the transatlantic TTIP talks, two stand out: United States free trade agreements and the EU agriculture sector. The EU generally tends to come second after the US in the global race for and domino game of bilateral free trade agreements. Over the last two to decades, where the US has set foot to open free trade agreement negotiations, the EU followed soon. This was the case with most FTAs signed by the EU in Latin America and in Asia so far. The EU Mexico FTA EU Chile FTAs of the early 2000s followed on US deals. Several years later, the EU FTAs with Peru and Colombia and the 2013 deal with Central America followed a similar pattern. Read more... Cuba - a ‘window of opportunity’ for EU pork

Source: Global Meat News - Date: 24/03/2016 Cuba has opened its market to a range of US food imports and the Spanish-speaking country has been tipped to be an unlikely saviour of Europe’s beleaguered pork sector, according to the European Meat and Livestock Trading Union (UECBV). Read more…

30/03: 13th EU-India Summit in Brussels

Source: European Council - Date: 30/03/2016 The EU and the Indian government endorsed two documents:

A joint statement An action plan (“EU-India agenda for action 2020”)

Highlight on trade items in the action plan:

Make full use of the existing institutional mechanisms to resolve trade irritants in particular concerning goods, services and investments, and strengthen trade and investment relations between India and the EU.

Both sides remain engaged to discuss how to deepen their bilateral trade and investment relations in order to fully reap the benefits, including through negotiations on the Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement.

Continue interaction regarding facilitating the registration of Geographical Indications (GIs) in each other’s territories. Uncertain fate of trade deals in human rights limelight

Source: Euractiv - Date: 15/03/2016 A new legal world is emerging around the EU’s trade policy. Scrutiny over the compatibility of trade agreements with human rights is increasing under recent Ombudsman and Court of Justice moves regarding the new trade agreement with Vietnam, and a 2012 agriculture agreement with Morocco. In early March, European foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini flew to Morocco for damage control in a diplomatic relationship that has been shaken by a December 2015 ruling by the Court of Justice of the EU partly annulling a 2012 trade agreement between Brussels and Rabat. In late February, Morocco suspended all formal relationships with EU institutions in response to the Court’s decision.

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Late February, the EU Ombudswoman closed a case brought by the human rights organisation FIDH on the EU-Vietnam FTA that is awaiting ratification with a verdict of ‘maladministration’. Emily O’Reilly criticised the Commission for refusing to undertake an ex-ante human rights impact assessment of the FTA. The issue was subsequently discussed in the human rights committee DROI in Parliament early March. The committee is expected to push for the inclusion of a human rights impact assessment of the EU Vietnam agreement regardless of the fact that the deal was formally concluded in December 2015. Read more... Online public consultation on the future of EU-Australia and EU-New Zealand trade and economic relations opened on 15th March 2016

This public consultation aims to gather detailed views relating to the future trade and economic relationship between the European Union (EU) and Australia and New Zealand, respectively. The results of the consultation will feed into the Impact Assessment which Commission services are currently preparing with regards to potential Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) between the European Union and Australia and New Zealand, respectively. Closing Date: 03/06/2016 Link to TRADE website:Read more... Link to consultation: Read more... European Parliament supports the commencement of FTA negotiations with New Zealand

The Trade Minister from New Zealand, Todd McClay, commented that New Zealand is delighted to see the European Parliament’s strong support for Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with them. 77% of the European Parliament voted for the resolution. As he welcomed the EU’s support, McClay stressed the importance of completing the FTA with the EU and acknowledged the benefits that would be brought to exporters in New Zealand. Link: Click here EU’s Commissioner for Trade visits Georgia

EU Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström on 21st March 2016 visited Tbilisi, Georgia, to take stock of the implementation of the EU-Georgia Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), in place for the past 18 months. In the Georgian capital, the Commissioner met with senior politicians and spoke to students and members of civil society. She also participated in a round table meeting with representatives of Georgia’s business community. Link: Read more...

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NEW EU LEGISLATION – March 2016

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/481 of 1 April 2016 repealing Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/459 of 18 March 2016 amending Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 laying down detailed rules for implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 as regards the arrangements for imports of organic products from third countries (Text with EEA relevance)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/464 of 29 March 2016 amending the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU concerning animal health control measures relating to African swine fever in certain Member States, as regards the entries for Estonia and Poland (notified under document C(2016) 1701) (Text with EEA relevance)

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’)

Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/440 of 23 March 2016 amending Annexes II, III and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for atrazine in or on certain products

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/448 of 23 March 2016 amending Annexes I and II to Decision 2003/467/EC in relation to the official tuberculosis-free and brucellosis-free status of Malta as regards bovine herds (notified under document C(2016) 1697)

Commission Recommendation (EU) 2016/336 of 8 March 2016 on the application of Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs as regards measures to reduce the need for tail-docking

Rectificatif au règlement (UE) no 56/2013 de la Commission du 16 janvier 2013 modifiant les annexes I et IV du règlement (CE) no 999/2001 du Parlement européen et du Conseil fixant les règles pour la prévention, le contrôle et l'éradication de certaines encéphalopathies spongiformes transmissibles ( JO L 21 du 24.1.2013 )

Poultrymeat

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/447 of 22 March 2016 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/2460 concerning certain protective measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5 in France (notified under document C(2016) 1608)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/432 of 18 March 2016 amending Regulation (EC) No 1484/95 as regards fixing representative prices in the poultrymeat and egg sectors and for egg albumin

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/433 of 22 March 2016 amending Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 as regards the entry for the United States of America in the list of third countries, territories, zones or compartments from which certain poultry commodities may be imported into or transit through the Union in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza of the subtype H7N8

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/391 of 17 March 2016 establishing the allocation

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coefficient to be applied to the quantities covered by the applications for import licences lodged from 1 to 7 March 2016 under the tariff quotas opened by Regulation (EC) No 533/2007 in the poultrymeat sector

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/392 of 17 March 2016 establishing the allocation coefficient to be applied to the quantities covered by the applications for import licences lodged from 1 to 7 March 2016 and determining the quantities to be added to the quantity fixed for the subperiod from 1 July to 30 September 2016 under the tariff quotas opened by Regulation (EC) No 1385/2007 in the poultrymeat sector

PDO/PGI

Publication of an application pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

Publication of an application pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/291 of 18 February 2016 entering a name in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications [Jambon d'Auvergne (PGI)]

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/292 of 19 February 2016 entering a name in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Alheira de Mirandela (PGI))