NEW GENOMIC TECHNIQUES: Council hesitates

During the last reunion of the year of the Environmental Council of the EU, Ministers showed to be more resistant to modification of the current GMO legislation, notably in a note advanced by the Austrian delegation calling on the precautionary principle to be applied. At the same time, the Commission still reiterates its commitment to […]

The new German government coalition’s agricultural plans

Germany sets course for digital progress, animal welfare, organic farming and the post-2027 CAP Following trilateral negotiations between the Socialists, the Greens and the Liberals (FDP), a 178-pages coalition agreement has been presented, paving the way for a new German government led by the red/green/yellow coalition. An important part of this programme is devoted to […]

NEW GENOMIC TECHNIQUES: Green Minister in Germany

In November the negotiations talks on the new government coalition in Germany brought their fruits and a new German agriculture minister from the Green Party, Cem Özdemir, has been confirmed. In the coalitions’ agreement the topic of genetic engineering does not seem to be a priority.  On the other side of the Atlantic, the US […]

EU Soil Strategy for 2030 – 
Reaping the benefits of healthy soils for people, food, nature & climate

On November 17, 2021, the European Commission published the EU Soil Strategy for 2030, a non-legislative document that addresses the issue of soil health. It is a document that outlines a framework and voluntary or legally binding actions that the Commission intends to undertake to protect, restore and sustainably use European soil. The strategy concretely […]

Wine news: trends are confirmed

November 2021 was characterized by a strong increase in the price of fine wines, with several records broken. The trends already observed in previous months: rising sales prices, rising costs, and falling production volumes are confirmed. Political issues, both external with several forms of protectionism, and internal with a shifting legislative framework remain important to […]

NEW GENOMIC TECHNIQUES: Commission open on feedback

October has marked the first step in the opening of the revision of the European legislation on GMOs, with the European Commission’s feedback period opened to receive the opinion of the European stakeholders on the matter. More than 70 000 feedbacks have reached the Commission offices, mainly for German and French citizens.  Also, the European […]

NUTRITION & FOOD POLICIES: Commission is still undecided on front-of-package label

During her intervention in front of the plenary session of the European Parliament, Health Commissioner Kyriakides stated that the Commission has not yet taken a decision on front-of-packaging labelling, refusing rumours that the Nutri-Score is the favoured option. Member Stated have decided to ban, starting in 2022, food additive E171 after consistent studies have underlined […]

Farm to Fork news: European Parliament approves it

October marked the adoption of the Farm to Fork strategy as a shared European strategy, and not only a European Commission’s initiative. In fact, the vote of the European Parliament on the texted agreed by the joint ComEnvi & ComAgri Committees confirmed most of the Commission’s vision of the future of European agriculture and the […]