An online consultation on the revision of novel food regulations,
designed to take into account changes to the status of GM food in
the EU, is nearing completion.
Member states now have 18 months to approve erythritol as a food
additive, after the approval process was finalised by the EC
Council of Health Ministers last month.
A review of the European Union's dairy strategy will take in place
in 2008, with intervention prices, storage subsidies and milk
quotas all up for discussion.
The chairman of Kraft Foods, the world's second biggest food
company, Roger Deromedi, has launched an attack on EU and US trade
barriers that are driving up the price of commodity ingredients
such as sugar and coffee.
Europeans are more optimistic about biotechnology than ever before,
but this acceptance does not extend to their view of genetically
modified foods, according to a new survey.
Cargill Sweetness Solutions has welcomed the change in EU law
surrounding the sweetener erythritol, saying it will give food and
beverage manufactures across Europe greater flexibility in
developing their products.
Agrana, which claims to be the leading sugar and starch producer in
Central and Eastern Europe, plans to expand its activities towards
the Western Balkans.
Scientific experts from European Union member states yesterday met
with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to discuss ways to
strengthen scientific co-operation in the risk assessment of GMOs.
Poland's controversial ban on the use of 16 varieties of
genetically modified maize has been backed by the European
Commission, despite warnings the law broke EU rules.
Self-regulation has become the mantra of food groups who argue that
laws are not always necessary - but can industry be trusted when it
has failed so spectacularly in the past?
Solbar's selection of Danetto Food as its distribution partner for
soy proteins in Finland is the latest initiative designed to
strengthen the firm's position in the European soy protein sector.
A growing conflict between the food industry and biofuel
manufacturers over rapeseed oil supply will be resolved at EU
parliamentary level, as members decide the future of edible oil
distribution.
Soft drinks makers have been hauled before the European Commission
to explain the presence of benzene traces in drinks, putting the
industry under pressure after recalls in the UK.
The EC has cleared Cargill's acquisition of Degussa's food
ingredients business after ruling that the move would not stifle
competition within the lecithin market.
The European Breakfast Cereal Association (CEEREAL) has hailed two
important pieces of European food legislation as "broadly positive'
for the future of the industry.
Owen Warnock, partner and food law expert at law firm Eversheds,
believes that UK plans to simplify the regulation and legislation
of the food industry are to be welcomed.
The European Commission has rejected a notification by Cyprus that
required genetically modified foods to be displayed separately from
non-GM foods in supermarkets.
Tate & Lyle has formed a joint venture to build and operate a
sugar plant in Israel, a move that will partially replace
traditional sugar imports from the European Union.
Danisco says that the finalisation of the new EU sugar regime and
the recently announced transitional measures will not affect the
firm's planned efficiency drive.
Voluntary food labelling schemes could lead to greater confusion
among consumers at a time when the EU is debating how best to
harmonise regulations across the bloc, argues an industry lawyer.
Chiquita has said that 2005 was a "terrific" year for the
company, despite a $19m net loss in its fourth quarter resulting
largely from the flooding of 1,600 hectares of the company's banana
farms in Honduras.
A US industry body has commended the WTO's ruling that the EU and
six member states broke trade rules by barring entry to GM crops
and foods, something that has had a significant impact on the
nation's food industry.
Soaring sugar prices are set to continue with supplies remaining
tight, despite increased production, according to the US Department
of Agriculture (USDA).
Südzucker is confident that the revised EU sugar reform offers
efficient producers long-term planning certainty, though it
predicts a fall in next year's income.
Soft drinks firms will voluntarily ban advertising to children
across the European Union in an effort to curb public criticism
amid the bloc's growing obesity problem.
A UK company has applied for approval of its noni juice products on
the grounds that it is 'substantially equivalent' to other products
that have already been authorised.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has received the primary
data for Ramazzini Foudation's recent study on the sweetener
aspartame and is commencing its risk assessment as a matter of
priority.
Chiquita is to keep its headquarters in their current location in
Cincinnati, Ohio, in order to focus on its major business
priorities, said the company's chairman in an internal announcement
last week.
European and US food regulators will never be able to fully tackle
issues relating to nutrition and obesity unless they work together,
claims a pressure group.
The oft-said adage that there are two things people don't want to
see being made - sausage and legislation - falls apart at the doors
of the EU's parliament.
If the EU keeps hiding its agriculture sector behind huge pay
cheques instead of devoting more time to food research funding, the
bloc's whimpering and wailing will only get worse.
The EU and US have signed off the first stage of their wine
agreement as France's agriculture minister tells annoyed winemakers
the deal is not as strong as it could be.
An ambitious Italian gourmet food promotion programme could
transform the fortunes of a revitalised sector - as long as EU
bureaucracy doesn't ruin everything.
