The European Commission has lifted extra controls on imports of US
corn products for unauthorised genetically modified material,
claiming that these are no longer necessary.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched its consultation
regarding the implementation of EU directives in England on food
additives other than colours and sweeteners and sweeteners for use
in foodstuffs.
The European Council is today due to formally back Austria's ban on
the cultivation of two genetically modified crops, a move the
biotechnology industry has branded as a "departure from rational
decision making" .
With the final passage of the new EU law regulating chemicals in
the bloc, the food industry has expressed concern about the
uncertainties relating to the scope of the legislation and the
eventual cost to processors.
Fruit supplier Chiquita has again raised its banana prices in North
America, a move that has helped the company offset a slump in sales
after the implementation of new EU banana import rules, as well as
the recent spinach E. coli...
The new European health and nutrition claims regulation and food
fortification regulation will enter into force in January
2007, as the EC decides not the wait for adoption of the comitology
amendments.
The EU Parliament yesterday voted for a tougher regulatory regime
for chemicals, requiring producers and users to replace some of the
current chemicals in use with safer alternatives, if they exist.
Publication of the new European health and nutrition claims and
food fortification regulations has been delayed until next spring -
a scenario that should affect nothing but the timescale for
entering into force, although experts...
Central and Eastern European sugar processors are bearing the brunt
of new EU reforms due to dominant Western European companies within
the industry acting in a political and not economic manner, claims
an agricultural expert.
The western European market for chilled prepared foods, worth over
€14.62bn in 2005, must take into account changing consumer patterns
if it is to avoid stagnation.
The sugar industry must take greater responsibility to ensure the
successful restructuring of the EU market, said the European
Commissioner for agriculture.
Europe's food safety authority has issued draft guidance for the
renewal of authorisations of existing genetically modified products
lawfully placed on the market.
Sugar processors in the EU are facing further uncertainty over
their futures following the announcement of EU fines for failing to
reduce stockpiling in the declining sector.
New measures adopted by the European Commission designed to
streamline the approval of additives, colors, flavorings and
enzymes, could result in longer approval procedures for US
exporters, with some presently approved ingredients...
European member states have endorsed a draft EC decision to impose
compulsory tests on all US long grain rice imports in order to
prove the absence of illegal biotech strains.
Ingredients giant Tate & Lyle is considering the sale of its
Food & Industrial Ingredients, Europe (TALFIIE) division, in a
move designed to sharpen its focus on value added ingredients, the
firm announced yesterday.
The UK food safety watchdog has revised its guidance on dairy
hygiene in an attempt to defuse pending legal action from the EU,
after allegations UK officials failed to protect the public from
contaminated milk.
European food companies are already being asked to submit health
claims for approval to agencies at national level, following the
adoption of the new EU regulation on nutrition and health claims
last week.
Following months of wrangling and a last minute delay, the new EU
regulation on nutrition and health claims was finally adopted
yesterday by the EU Council of Ministers and looks likely to come
into force next January.
Ingredients giant Tate and Lyle could be set to cease its sugar
processing operations in Central Europe, as producers look to lower
quotas in light of new EU sugar reforms.
Tate & Lyle has formed a joint enterprise to build and operate
a sugar plant in Israel, a move that will partially replace
traditional sugar imports from the European Union.
Banana firm Chiquita has announced a number of organizational
changes and new appointments in the latest move designed to
strengthen its flagging business, hit in the past year by new EU
banana import rules.
Fruit supplier Chiquita is embarking on a number of debt-reducing
initiatives, including the sale of its shipping fleet, as the firm
struggles to find its feet after new EU banana import rules hacked
at its profits.
Updated EU rules on aflatoxin contamination crack down on repeat
offenders such as Egypt, China, Iran and Turkey, and will affect
imports of supplies such as peanuts, pistachios, and dried fruit.
Banana prices in the US have seen a significant increase in recent
months, as leading supplier Chiquita attempts to offset losses
after facing tough trading conditions in Europe.
The EC's Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health has
now discussed the possible illegal GM contamination of long grain
rice imports from the US.
The FSA is seeking comments on proposed European Commission
regulations that would establish a common authorisation procedure
for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings.
The FSAI is to implement a ban on the import of certain US long
grain rice products unless certificates declaring them to be free
of unauthorised GM rice accompany them.
Food and beverage makers could soon tap into a range of new
ingredients with a healthy twist as sugar and sweetener firm Tate
& Lyle launches a new venture capital arm to focus on
next-generation ingredients.
This years European crop production has been significantly affected
by last months heat waves, according to the European Commission,
which expects decreased yields of commodities including soft wheat,
winter barley and grain maize.
Banana supplier Chiquita has reported a sharp fall in profits after
new European tariffs on bananas forced the company to slash its
prices in the region and increase its prices in North America in an
attempt to offset losses.
