Rules governing the size and shape of fruit and vegetables will be consigned to history after European Union Member States yesterday voted on Commission proposals to repeal specific marketing standards for 26 types of fruit and vegetables. The Commission claims the initiative is a major element in its ongoing efforts to streamline and simplify EU rules and cut red tape. For 10 types of fruit and vegetables, including apples, strawberries and tomatoes, marketing standards will remain in place. But... ...Read more »

The European Commission launched a new Organic Farming Campaign at the beginning of the week to improve farmer and consumer awareness of organic produce. Under the campaign slogan: “Organic farming. Good for nature, good for you”, the promotional campaign aims to inform consumers about the meaning and benefits of organic farming and food production. The campaign will focus on increasing consumer awareness and recognition of organic products, and especially on young people and children... ...Read more »

Improving the environmental performance and, in particular, the energy efficiency of products and stimulating their market uptake are the core objectives of a package put forward by the European Commission. It sets out a series of voluntary and obligatory actions to support a coherent and dynamic policy in the EU and internationally, helping to define eco-friendly products, informing the consumer through improved labelling and supporting their purchase through public procurement and fiscal incentives. Commission... ...Read more »

The European Commission yesterday proposed to establish a European Union-wide scheme to provide free fruit and vegetables to school children. European funds worth €90 million every year would pay for the purchase and distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables to schools, and this money would be matched by national funds in those Member States which chose to make use of the programme. The Commission has already created a ‘Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity and related... ...Read more »

The European Commission has created a high level group to address issues of competitiveness, innovation and safety in the food and beverage industries. The plan is to counter the current issues undermining the agro-food industry and generate a list of recommendations to improve competitiveness. The Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the EU (CIAA) has welcomed the launch of the ‘High Level Group (HLG) on the Competitiveness of the Agro-Food Industry’ and believes it will... ...Read more »

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a survey on Salmonella levels detected in slaughtered pigs across the EU in 2006-07 indicating that Salmonella was found in one in ten pigs for human consumption. Salmonella was estimated on average to be present in 10.3 per cent of pigs slaughtered for human consumption, according to the EU-wide report from an EFSA Task Force. Levels for Salmonella detected in pigs varied from 0% to 29% between Member States. Among all Salmonella detected,... ...Read more »

Europe is fast becoming the world’s leading exporter of food regulation as authorities in many countries increasingly look for models on which to base their legislation, a food policy expert has said. Speaking at the Vitafoods International Discussion Forum in Geneva on Thursday 8 May, Simon Pettman said that, with international regulators now more closely monitoring developments in the EU, ‘getting it right’ in Europe is essential. Mr Pettman, Director of international food and nutrition... ...Read more »

After years of trying to rein in persistent overproduction by European farmers, the European Commission is now seeking to free farmers to respond to the skyrocketing global food prices and low stocks. The Communication document produced by the EU analyses structural and cyclical factors and proposes a three-pronged policy response, including short-term measures in the context of agricultural policy and in the monitoring of the retail sector; initiatives to enhance agricultural supply and ensure food... ...Read more »