NEWSLETTER 17/2008

HELLOWEEN

EDITION 31.10.2008

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TABLE OF CONTENT

EU and EUROPEAN AFFAIRS...................................................3 Getting the most out of EU-Quality food and drink: Commission launches a consultation on agricultural product quality.................................................................................... 3 Getting the most out of EU quality food and drink - Speaking points at Press conference .... 3 Commission launches EU school milk campaign ............................................................ 4 EU to restore import duties on cereals......................................................................... 4 New database on food quality product names............................................................... 4 Going Global: The way forward .................................................................................. 5 Meeting of the 27 agriculture committees of the national parliaments of the EU and the European Parliament................................................................................................. 5 European Network for Rural Development goes live....................................................... 5 The new European Parliament Magazine is online.......................................................... 6 Trade and Competitiveness: A new report confirms the need to an open Europe................ 6 Commissioner Ashton’s first moves as Commissioner .................................................... 7 Eurostat regional yearbook 2008: EU27 regions under the magnifying glass ..................... 7 Clean and energy efficient vehicles get go-ahead .......................................................... 7 EP to reduce its carbon foot print by 30%.................................................................... 8 YOUNG EUROPEAN MEAT COMMITTEE NEWS............................9 YEMCo Conference SOFIA.......................................................................................... 9 PUBLIC AND ANIMAL HEALTH...............................................10 Join EFSA's Scientific Committee or Panels................................................................. 10 Commission to propose additional funding of approximately 100 million euros in 2009 to help Member States tackle Bluetongue ...................................................................... 10 Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Documentary: 8 min. 13 sec.)............................... 10 BSE Legislation ...................................................................................................... 11 EFSA consults on draft opinion on nanotechnologies and feed safety.............................. 11 EFSA in a European and Danish perspective ............................................................... 12 Join EFSA in Assessing Food Satey Risks in Europe...................................................... 12 EFSA begins work with health claim list ..................................................................... 12 SPECIAL REPORT: ENVIROMENT............................................................................... 14 MEAT INDUSTRY.................................................................16 The Unfair Commercial Directive............................................................................... 16 EU’s GM aversion costs €2.5 billion a year.................................................................. 16 Noodles and meat recalled in Japanese food scares ..................................................... 16 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS....................................................21 Europe and Asia Leaders meet in Beijing for 7th ASEM Summit...................................... 21 The global food crisis: What is the role of trade?......................................................... 21 Restoring citizens’ confidence in trade requires sound domestic policies ......................... 21 New page on the enlargement strategy and report progress 2008 ................................. 21 Brazil - Voluminous beef exports to Russia in September ............................................. 21 NEW COMMUNITY LEGISLATION ...........................................23

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EU and EUROPEAN AFFAIRS

Getting the most out of EU-Quality food and drink: Commission launches a

consultation on agricultural product quality

Source: EU Date: 18/10/2008 The European Commission adopted a Green Paper to open the debate on how to help European farmers make the most of the quality of the food and drinks they produce. As globalisation spreads, pressure increases from low cost products from overseas and consumer demands evolve, Europe's most potent weapon is 'quality'. The Green Paper looks at the range of standards, quality and certification programmes and labelling schemes currently operating in the EU – including geographical indications, organic farming, and private and regional food quality certification schemes – and asks what could be done better to exploit the strengths of EU farming and better inform consumers about the products on offer. The paper asks stakeholders to give their views on how effective these measures are in delivering guarantees and communicating the qualities of the products, and to suggest improvements. The consultation period will run until the end of 2008. A Communication will be prepared next year based on the results, which could lead to legislative proposals at a later stage.

The EU raises issues to UECBV members such as:

• Whether there should be an obligatory indication of the place of farming of primary products (EU/non-EU).

• Should products allowed to be sold which do not meet marketing standards for aesthetic reasons?

• Should there be EU rules to define terms like 'mountain product' or 'farmhouse product'?

• How should the scheme for geographical indications (GIs) be developed? • How can GIs be protected more effectively in third countries? • How can the single EU market in organic products be made to work better? • How can we increase the production of quality products in the EU's outermost

regions? • Are any new EU schemes needed, particularly in the area of environmental

protection, and if so, how do we keep the administrative burden as light as possible?

• How can we avoid the risk of consumers being misled by certification schemes?

For more information and to contribute to the consultation: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/policy/index_en.htm

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Getting the most out of EU quality food and - Speaking points at Press conference drink

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Commission launches EU school milk campaign

Source: EU Date: 10/2008 Today in Cyprus, European Commissioner for Agriculture, Mariann Fischer Boel, will launch an EU-wide campaign to promote the relaunched School Milk Programme. Under the slogan “Milk – Drink it up”, the information campaign aims to raise awareness of the benefits of milk consumption and the availability of EU funds to schools. During a day dedicated to balanced diet and good eating habits organised by pupils of Panagia Triherousa school in Limassol, Commissioner Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Health, Androulla Vassiliou, and Dr Michalis Polynikis, Minister for Agriculture of Cyprus, will kick off a series of entertaining and educative events. As part of this campaign, young people will be invited to take part in a photo competition on the theme “Milk power”. HTML: EN DE FR ES DA NL IT SW PT FI EL CS ET HU LT LV MT PL SK SL

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Relevant information on milk and the EU School Milk Programme is available on the dedicated web site www.drinkitup.europa.eu

For more information on the European Commission's nutrition policy http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/life_style/nutrition/nutrition_en.htm

EU to restore import duties on cereals

Source: EU Date: 17/10/2008 Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, announced that customs duties on cereals imports will be reintroduced as a reaction to the price decrease on the cereals market. A draft Regulation was put to the Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets yesterday. It has now to be formally adopted by the Commission and will enter into force on the third day following publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. There are no export refunds on cereals exports. Read the press release

New database on food quality product names

Source: EU Date: 17/10/2008 DG Agriculture and Rural Development today launched a new database of protected quality names for agricultural products and foodstuffs. By using the 'Database Of Origin and Registration' (DOOR), researchers, producers, agricultural journalists, and interested citizens now have easy access to full information on the registered names - PDOs, PGIs and TSGs. Commenting on the new database, Marianne Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, said "This important project illustrates the Commission's commitment to the agricultural quality schemes. DOOR will cut the time taken for examination and greatly facilitate the work of all those seeking data and information on our registered quality names." DOOR comprises data on 832 registered names: PDOs (Protected Designations of Origin), and PGIs (Protected Geographical Indications), and TSGs (Traditional Specialities Guaranteed) scheme, as well as 323 applied-for names. When complete, DOOR will consist of three modules: an online application system, a workflow management system within the Commission, and the on-line database available today. DOOR can be consulted at: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/browse.html?display

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Going Global: The way forward

Source: Date: 28/10/2008

European Trade Commissioner, Catherine Ashton, intervened during the Conference "Going Global: the Way Forward" organised by BusinessEurope, the Confederation of European Business, on the 28th of October in Brussels. The conference took stock of the EU‘s external competitiveness at the second anniversary of Global Europe. More information

BusinessEurope Conference "Going Global"- Closing remarks by EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton Meeting of the 27 agriculture committees of the national parliaments of the EU

and the European Parliament

Source: Date: 31/10/2008 The parliamentary committees responible for agricultural issues of the national parliaments of the EU and the European Parliament are having a joint meeting on agriculture and rural development in the European Union on 3 and 4 November in Brussels. This meeting will be co-chaired by Neil Parish, the president of the AGRI committee of the European Parliament and Jean-Paul Emorine and Patrick Ollier, the presidents of the economic affairs committees of the French Senate and the French National Assembly. The topics specifically chosen for the two main debates are: - The health check of the Common Agricultural Policy and the prospects beyond 2013; - The role of European agriculture in world food security The French agriculture minister, Michel Barnier, will speak on behalf of the Council of the European Union in the debate on world food security.

• European Parliament website - Committee meetings with national parliaments' section

• French Senate websites • French National Assembly website

European Network for Rural Development goes live

Source: Date: 10/2008 The European Commission will tomorrow launch the European Network for Rural Development at a high-profile conference on rural development in Cyprus. The Network will bring together policy-makers, administrators, academics and other key actors in the area of rural development from across the European Union, thus making it easier for them to share ideas, information and experience. This will help keep the European Union's rural development policy fit for the demands of the 21st century. HTML: EN DE FR ES DA NL IT SW PT FI EL CS ET HU LT LV MT PL SK SL

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”On my travels around rural Europe, I've seen some horror stories: I've seen exhausted farmers desperately trying to make ends meet financially with rusting farm equipment. I've seen landscapes being slowly eaten away by soil erosion. And I've seen once-proud village communities collapsing.But I've also seen so many encouraging things. I've seen farmers getting back a spring in their step as they invest in new production techniques

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and make a profit in new markets. I've seen previously endangered landscapes restored to stability and beauty. And I've seen villages get a new lease of life when they find the money to introduce basic services that most of us take for granted”. Read the entire speech by Mariann Fischer Boel “Prospects for rural development policy”

The new European Parlia nt Magazine is online me

Source: Date: 10/2008

he Parliament Magazine October 13th issue is now available to downloadT .

The MEP Awards 2008 Winners Guide is available here. The winners of the Parliament Magazine’s 2008 MEP awards grace our cover this issue. T Guest journalist Rory Watson provides the low-down on the last EU summit.

Trade and Competitiveness: A new report confirms the need to an open Europe

Source: Date: 27/10/2008

A new report by the European Commission has assessed the competitiveness of the

Key elements of the report:

• Thanks to some of its key assets such as chemicals, pharmacy products, motor

ts for merchandise trade (excluding

energy) are 'inputs' in manufacturing

n upgrading of the quality of its products,

er

erging markets, particularly in Asia. In the long run, this underperformance on some of

European Union in the global economy at the end of a decade of rapid economic change. Since the mid-1990s, there has been a major redistribution of market share between emerging and developed countries and among developed countries themselves. In this highly competitive environment, the EU has broadly maintained its world market share, while the US and Japan have lost ground. The EU remains the world's biggest exporter of manufactured goods, and dominates markets for high-quality products. The report warns, however, that the EU must focus on investment in its high-technology manufacturing and continue to improve its market share in the fast growing economies of Asia. The report reinforces the economic arguments behind the launch of the European Commission's Global Europe trade policy framework in 2006.

vehicles and non-electrical machinery, the European Union's trade balance for manufactured products has improved sharply, reaching a surplus of €162bn in 2007. The steady increase of €105billion in the trade surplus since 2000 has helped to partially offset the rise in the EU's energy bill, for which the deficit increased by €137bn over the same period.

• The EU accounts for 19.5% of global markeenergy) having lost only 1.3 percentage points since 1995. Market share losses are much greater in the case of the US and Japan, falling by 4.4 and 4.1 percentage points respectively. The US and Japan now respectively account for 13.0% and 9.5% of the world market.

• Two thirds of EU imports (excludingprocesses. This demonstrates very clearly that the EU as a whole relies heavily on open markets for inputs for its manufacturing and that open supply chains are integral to its manufacturing strength.

• The EU’s strong performance is due to acombined with the ability of EU companies to sell products at premium price because of quality, branding and related services. The EU accounts for a third of high quality goods and these products represent half of all EU exports of manufactured goods. Building on this ability to sell products at premium price is the only way to uphold EU levels of employment, wages and social protection.

• The EU's performance for high-tech products is disappointing and slightly lowthan its overall market share. Given its level of development, the EU should perform better in this sector. This raises concerns about the EU's capacity in the future to keep its products at the cutting edge of quality and innovation.

• The EU has lost significant market share in some of the fast-growing em

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the most promising markets could undermine overall the EU's position in international trade. The new generation of Free Trade Agreements with India, Korea and ASEAN are a direct attempt to correct this trend.

• The EU is the leading exporter of services, with 26.9% of the world market against 19.7% for the US and 6.1% for Japan. The European Union is also the world's biggest investor and the principal host of foreign investment. When intra-EU stocks are excluded, the EU owns 33% and hosts 29% of world investment stocks.

Read the report

Commissioner Ashton’s first moves as Commissioner

Date: 29/10/Source: 2008 “Open economies at home broad to our conomic well-being. We are producers and innovators, but

rliament, Strasbourg, 20 October 2008 View the hearing

and a are critical eabove all - and more than anyone else in the world – we are traders and investors. In a global market, with global supply chains, our companies need to import to export.”

Commissioner Ashton's hearing European Pa - (real)

Listen to the hearing - (.mp3)

Eurostat regional yearbook 2008: EU27 regions under the magnifying glass

urce: EUROSTAT Date: 30/10/2008 So

EU regi he highest share of th r forc gh-ch sectors? Which region has the highest total number of nights spent in hotels? And

are found in the 2008 edition of the urostat regional yearbook which is published by Eurostat, the Statistical Office

pulation, urban tatistics, GDP, household accounts, structural business statistics, labour market,

In which on can you find t e labou e employed in hitewhich region has the lowest rate of road deaths? The answers to these questions and many more

1Eof the European Communities. The publication gives an overview of the most recent economic, social and demographic developments in the 271 regions2 of the 27 Member States of the European Union as well as in regions in the three candidate countries (Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey) and the four EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). The Eurostat regional yearbook 2008 includes chapters on postransport, tourism, science, technology & innovation, health and agriculture. The publication also contains two new subjects; labour costs and sectoral productivity. The latter was written by the European Commission Directorate-General for Regional Policy. Read more

Clean and energy efficient vehicles get go-ahead

EU Source: Date: 22/10/2008

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The European Commission welcomes today’ pport of the European Parliament for its

to prom a broad market introduction of cle ene ehicles rough public procurement. This will reduce fuel consumption as well as CO2 and

olicies of the uropean Union. The public sector in Europe will set an example by promoting new and

undertakings and to undertakings

t costs with the costs linked to the operation of vehicles. This facilitates

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s suproposal ote an and rgy efficient vthpollutant emissions from road vehicles. The EP vote is based on a compromise reached with the Member States, which are expected to adopt the proposal shortly. Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, in charge of transport, said: "This agreement marks an important step forward in the energy, climate and environment pEbetter vehicle technologies for a future sustainable transport system. This sends a clear signal to the market and to the citizens on the competitive value of technologies which save energy and protect the environment." The proposed Directive will introduce, for the first time, energy consumption, CO2 and pollutant emissions as mandatory award criteria into public procurement of vehicles. It applies to public authorities and publicly owned running public passenger transport services. As a result, not only the price of a vehicle, but also the impact it creates during its lifetime for the environment are reflected in the purchase decision. Flexibility is provided for local authorities on the detailed implementation. A harmonised methodology is defined for monetising lifetime costs for energy consumption, CO2 and pollutant emissions. This enables a transparent comparison of vehicle investmenan informed purchase decision and can avoid costs both for operators and for society. The Directive is expected to have an impact well beyond its immediate scope. Public procurement is a key market of high visibility and can lead the decisions in business and private sectors. The Directive therefore is expected, over the long term, to result inconsiderably faster and broader market introduction of clean and energy efficient vehicles and in a reduction of their costs through economies of scale. This will then contribute to improve energy efficiency, and reduce CO2 and pollutant emissions of the whole vehicle fleet in Europe. For more information: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/clean/index_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/transport/clean/promotion/index_en.htm

EP to reduce its carbon foot print by 30%

EP Source: Date: 29/10/2008 The European Parliament Bureau has decided to put forward a strategic plan to reduce

ution's carbon "footprint" by 30%, thus going b the E to cut reenhouse gas emissions by 20%. The Bureau welcomed an in-house study showing

the instit eyond U undertakingghow the 30% reduction can be achieved, noting that Parliament's recent shift to the use of only "green electricity" in its three places of work has already reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 17%. Read more

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YOUNG EUROPEAN MEAT COMMITTEE NEWS

YEMCo Conference SOFIA

Source: Date: 10/2008 We have the pleasure to send you a new reminder for the FIRST YEMCo event in a New EU Member State:

20th-23rd November 2008:

"State of play of the European meat industry after the latest two enlargements of the EU

-Particular examples of Bulgaria , Poland and Romania-" Furthermore, the following documents can be downloaded here-after: • Registration Form, Sofia – Bulgaria [EN] • What is YEMCo? Bulgarian Version [BG] • YEMCo Sofia: Hotel Registration Form [EN] • YEMCo Sofia: Conference & Exhibition Center [EN] For any further information, visit the YEMCo website: http://www.uecbv.eu/en/yemco/index.php We hope and expect that many of you will be there.

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PUBLIC AND ANIMAL HEALTH

Join EFSA's Scientific Committee or Panels

Source: Date: 10/2008 EFSA has launched a call to select new members for EFSA’s Scientific Committee and Panels. The call was launched on 23 October 2008 and closes on 7 January 2009. The call has been launched because the mandate of EFSA’s existing Scientific Committee and Panels expires in summer 2009 (excluding ANS and CEF Panels). Successful applicants will begin working for EFSA from summer 2009 with a renewable three year mandate.

The call is open to scientific experts specialised in the remit of EFSA’s Scientific Committee and Panels. Please read the full vacancy notice before applying.

Vacancy notice (0.1Mb)

Apply Online

Closing date: 7 Jan 2009

Read more

Commission to propose additional funding of approximately 100 million euros in 2009 to help Member States tackle Bluetongue

Source: EU Date: 29/10/2008 The European Commission today announced its intention to propose in early 2009 additional funding of approximately €100 million in order to co-finance the administration of vaccines to control Bluetongue disease in 2009. Subject to the assessment of actual needs and absorption capacity, this commitment, made in an amending letter to the 2009 budget adopted today, would raise the total amount likely to be allocated to assist vaccination efforts in 2009 up to €160 million. Prior to today's decision, the Commission had already proposed in the preliminary draft budget 2009 to allocate €60 million to co-finance the purchase of vaccines and surveillance of the insects which carry the disease. The Commission's total funding during the period 2008-2009 is expected to exceed €300 million. European Commissioner for Health Androulla Vassiliou said: "Bluetongue has been causing serious concern to farmers and Member State authorities. It now affects large parts of the EU. Extensive vaccination will contain the disease and reduce its prevalence and its effects. I am pleased that we have been able to make this political commitment today. The total funding, which is expected to exceed €300 million, indicates the Commission's strong determination to decisively support Member State efforts to combat Bluetongue." The amending letter to the 2009 budget is now being forwarded to the European Parliament and the Council. The agreement of both institutions will be necessary in order to release the funds. The additional funding will assist Member States by financing up to 50% of the costs incurred by them in administering the Bluetongue vaccine.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Documentary: 8 min. 13 sec.)

Source: EU Date: 22/10/2008 You can download a Windows Media Video version of this video to view in an external player.

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BSE Legislation

Source: EU Date: 27/10/2008 Chronological list Updated 27-10-2008

EFSA consults on draft opinion on nanotechnologies and feed safety

Source: EFSA Date: 17/10/2008

EFSA is today launching a public consultation on its draft scientific opinion in relation to nanoscience and nanotechnologies and food and feed safety. Nanotechnologies involve the use of substances on a very small scale. This draft opinion focuses on engineered nano materials (ENM) that could be deliberately introduced into the food chain. It elaborates on approaches to risk assessment in this field and as such is not an assessment of any specific application of ENM. The European Commission (EC) has asked for this opinion as a first step because consideration needs to be given as to whether existing risk assessment approaches can be appropriately applied to this new technology. When finalised, EFSA’s opinion will then help the EC to explore appropriate measures, assess existing legislation and determine the scope of possible further requests for scientific opinions from EFSA in this field. EFSA’s Scientific Committee (SC), which includes the chairs of all of EFSA’s Panels, is leading this work as it has a multi-disciplinary character and is relevant to a number of the Panels’ respective areas of expertise. They are being assisted by a Working Group of scientists with relevant expertise. Key conclusions of the draft opinion include:

• Established international approaches to risk assessment[1] currently used for non nano chemicals can also be applied to ENM

• It is currently not possible to satisfactorily extrapolate scientific data on non nano chemicals and apply it to their nano-sized versions. Consequently specific case by case risk assessments should be performed when assessing their safety, based on specific data from relevant safety tests applicable to the particular application

• Possible risks arise because ENM have particular characteristics, due in part to their small size and high surface area. Small size increases their ability to move around in the body in ways that other substances do not, while their high surface area increases their reactivity

• Additional limitations and uncertainties exist, particularly in relation to characterising, detecting and measuring ENM in food, feed or the body. There is also limited information on absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, as well as the toxicity of ENM

Recommendations are made in the draft opinion for further data, research and investigations to address uncertainties and limitations and therefore strengthen the understanding, evidence base and methodologies to be applied in assessing the risk of ENMs. The opinion also gives an indication to potential applicants of the data they would need to provide to allow for a risk assessment. Comments on the draft opinion can be submitted until 1st December 2008, via the EFSA website. EFSA will also meet with stakeholders to discuss the draft opinion and engage with EU Member States (MS) through its Advisory Forum. The Working Group and the SC will consider comments and contributions made during the consultation. The final opinion will be adopted, considering the comments received, after the public consultation. More information:

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Draft Opinion of the Scientific Committee on the Potential Risks Arising from Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies on Food and Feed Safety Key topic section on Nanotechnologies Frenquently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Nanotechnologies

EFSA in a European and Danish perspective

Source: EFSA Date: 28/10/2008

On 20 November, in Copenhagen, EFSA, together with the Danish National Food Institute, will host the conference "EFSA in a European and a Danish perspective". The aim is to explain the importance EFSA is attaching to scientific co-operation in Europe and the tools EFSA is using in order to make this co-operation a reality, i.e. focal points. The event will be an opportunity for EFSA, and all those who may have an interest in EFSA, such as the food authorities, the industry, consumers, and scientists, to meet and exchange views.At the meeting in Copenhagen, Danish food safety experts and EFSA will come together to discuss EFSA’s work and role in the European food safety system from a European and a Danish perspective. EFSA’s Executive Director, Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle will outline EFSA’s objectives and strategy. Its Director of Scientific Cooperation and Assistance, Hubert Deluyker, will talk about scientific exchange and networks. Participants will also hear about the relevance of EFSA for Danish agriculture and for the Danish Veterinary and Food administration, as well as the Danish contribution to EFSA’s scientific work. There will also be presentation of the Danish Focal Point, the interface between EFSA and those involved in food safety in Denmark.

Invitation and Programme (0.3Mb)

Join EFSA in Assessing Food Satey Risks in Europe

Source: EFSA Date: 30/10/2008

EFSA is organising two Seminars for scientific experts from new EU Member States in October and November, to encourage leading scientists from these countries to apply as members of EFSA’s Scientific Panels. The composition of EFSA’s Scientific Committee and Panels will be renewed in 2009, and EFSA will launch a call for new members on 23 October 2008. This first Seminar will take place in Budapest, Hungary, on 30 October 2008. It will host scientists mainly from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary, Malta, Romania and Slovenia. Independent scientists from various risk assessment disciplines (e.g. food and feed safety, human nutrition, toxicology, chemistry, animal health and welfare, plant protection and plant health) will be informed about EFSA’s work and encouraged to apply to join Europe’s network of top food safety scientists. The agenda includes an introduction to EFSA and its Scientific Committee and Panels, an explanation of the application and selection procedure, case studies from different fields of EFSA's remit presented by current Panel members, and a round table discussion with EFSA experts and staff on EFSA Panel membership. Participation in the seminars is by invitation only. EFSA is also organising a similar Seminar in Warsaw, Poland, on 27 November 2008.

Programme (0.1Mb)

EFSA begins work with health claim list

Source: Date: 23/10/2008 EFSA’s NDA Panel has started evaluating the scientific substantiation of health claims indicated in the draft list received from the European Commission in July[2] and which have passed the pre-screening stage. These are functional claims based on generally accepted science and their scientific substantiation is being carried out in line with article 13 of the Regulation on nutrition and health claims made on food. EFSA's scientific evaluation will help ensure that claims made on food labelling and

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advertising regarding nutrition and health are meaningful and accurate, and can thereby help consumers in making healthy diet choices. Before embarking on the scientific evaluation of the claims, EFSA needed to pre-screen the 2,870 entries in the draft list received by the European Commission in order to differentiate between those claims which can already be assessed and those for which more information is needed. To this end, EFSA’s scientists have agreed to apply six criteria to ensure a thorough and consistent screening of the health claims entries. Read more

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SPECIAL REPORT: ENVIROMENT

Source: AgraEurope Date: 15/10/2008

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MEAT INDUSTRY

The Unfair Commercial Directive

Source: EU Date: 28/10/2008 New rules enhancing consumer rights must be applicable across EU by 12 December 2007, 2½ years after their formal adoption in May 2005 ( Directive 2005/29/EC on Unfair Commercial Practices). This should boost consumer confidence and make it easier for business (especially small and medium sized) to carry out cross border trading. The new legislation outlines "sharp practices" which will be prohibited throughout the EU, such as misleading and aggressive marketing. A general ban on unfair commercial practices will ensure that the Directive will stand the test of time even in fast evolving markets. Specific provisions prevent exploitation of vulnerable consumers, such as children. Enforcement of the rules is the task of national consumer protection authorities and courts.

Press release: New EU rules crackdown on misleading advertising and aggressive sales practices (IP/07/1915) - 12-12-2007

Questions and answers: The unfair commercial practices Directive.

(MEMO/07/572) – 12-12-2007

This brochure

introduces the Directive and gives concrete examples. The deadline for transposition was 12 June 2007. Several Member States are late in transposing the Directive into their national laws. The Commission is working with the Member States and stakeholders to make sure that Member States comply with their obligations to transpose the directive into national law. The Commission will take all necessary steps to address late or inadequate transposition. Read more

EU’s GM aversion costs €2.5 billion a year Source: Farmers Weekly Interactive Date: 17/10/2008 The European livestock sector is losing €2.5bn a year thanks to EU time-wasting on authorising GM feeds and a zero-tolerance policy on new GM varieties, according to a report by agricultural trade researchers. While feed prices have been hit by poor harvests and world-wide shortages, EU import bans on GM maize have pushed up prices further, READ

Noodles and meat recalled in Japanese food scares

Source: Ap-foodtechnology Date: 27/10/2008 Food scares have been making headlines in Japan with both meat products and instant noodles being recalled in recent days. Japanese ham and sausage producer Itoham Foods said it will voluntarily recall 13 products after toxic substances were found at above-standard levels in the water used at one of its factories. The manufacturer found that underground water used in the facility, located near Tokyo, contained high levels of cyanide ions and cyanogen chloride.

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The amounts of the substance were 0.02-03 milligrams per litter, two to three times the levels permitted by Japanese safety standards, but within the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended levels. According to the meat producer, the amounts are not large enough to cause any serious health damage. Last week, two leading food manufacturers in the country recalled instant cup noodles following the discovery of insecticide contamination in their products.

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INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Europe and Asia Leaders meet in Beijing for 7th ASEM Summit

Source: EU Date: 23/10/2008 The 7th ASEM Summit was held in Beijing on 24-25 October 2008. The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, Heads of State or Government from 43 Asian and European ASEM countries, as well as the Secretary-General of ASEAN will attend the meeting which takes place every two years. The overarching theme of the Summit is "Vision and Action: Towards a Win Win Solution" and will discuss global challenges directly affecting the citizens of both regions. Read the press release

The global food crisis: What is the role of trade?

Source: Date: 17/10/2008

What is the role of trade in bringing this crisis on, and how can trade alleviate the problem of the rapid escalation in global food prices today? Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, and Christian Häberli, World Trade Institute, discuss the issues with Keith Rockwell, WTO Spokesperson. You can also make your views known in

the online forum below.

Restoring citizens’ confidence in trade requires sound domestic policies

Source: Date: 29/10/2008 Director-General Pascal Lamy, in a lecture at the University of California, Berkeley, on 29 October 2008 said “we know that trade opening creates greater efficiencies, encourages innovation and generates wealth. But this does not mean that trade opening is good for every person, every country, every time. Trade, especially inside the system of WTO rules, generates wealth. But the WTO cannot address income inequality inside the borders of any individual country. Restoring citizens' confidence in trade requires governments to ensure that sound domestic policies are in place.” Click here

New page on the enlargement strategy and report progress 2008

Source: Date: 29/10/2008 A new page on the European Commission's " Enlargement package 2008" has become available on line. The page already features a brochure illustrating the EU's Enlargement policy, selected projects from candidate and potential candidate countries, and background documents. It has been launched as part of the preparation for the new "Enlargement package" which will be published by the Commission on 5 November 2008.

Brazil - Voluminous beef exports to Russia in September

Source: World Beef Report Date: 29/10/2008

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• Brazil exported 49,500 tons of frozen beef to Russia in September, situating well above the 40,000 tons of the past two months. These voluminous sales are an additional factor to the drastic demand fall caused by current financial problems of importing operators. During the second and third quarters, Brazil exported to Russia 260,000 tons of frozen beef, 66,000 tons more (+ 34%) than in the same period 2007. In big numbers, the growth practically compensates sale drops from Argentina to Russia, which in the same period fell almost 64,000 tons. In the past four months to September, Russia imported around 75,000 tons of beef from Mercosur countries and Australia – its main providers – after the high peak of May that reached 100,000 tons. In the last quarter, numbers reflect the strong sale contraction of the past weeks. • Other important destinations for Brazilian beef were Iran with 12,521 tons and Israel with 4,426 tons, placed fourth behind Venezuela. • Exports to the European Union as well grew significantly, though still at much lower levels if compared with historic registers. As more cattle farms are gradually incorporated to the eligible list, beef volumes have been growing. It reached 1,681 tons in September, with Italy, the Netherlands and Germany as the leading buyers. With so low sales to Europe, Middle East countries are the ones buying the highest chilled beef volumes.

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NEW COMMUNITY LEGISLATION

of 2nd fortnight of October

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1017/2008 of 17 October 2008 on the issuing of import licences for applications lodged during the first seven days of October 2008 under tariff quotas opened by Regulation (EC) No 616/2007 for poultry meat

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Council Regulation (EC) No 1009/2008 of 9 October 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers

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Corrigendum to Commission Decision 2007/777/EC of 29 November 2007 laying down the animal and public health conditions and model certificates for imports of certain meat products and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines for human consumption from third countries and repealing Decision 2005/432/EC ( OJ L 312, 30.11.2007)

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Rectificatif au règlement (CE) no 1875/2006 de la Commission du 18 décembre 2006 modifiant le règlement (CEE) no 2454/93 fixant certaines dispositions d'application du règlement (CEE) no 2913/92 du Conseil établissant le code des douanes communautaire ( JO L 360 du 19.12.2006)

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 999/2008 of 14 October 2008 fixing the interest rates to be used for calculating the costs of financing intervention measures comprising buying-in, storage and disposal for the 2009 EAGF accounting year

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 1068/2008 of 30 October 2008 approving minor amendments to the specification for a name entered in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Taureau de Camargue (PDO))

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 1069/2008 of 30 October 2008 approving minor amendments to the specification for a name entered in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Veau d’Aveyron et du Ségala (PGI))

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 1031/2008 of 19 September 2008 amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 1064/2008 of 29 October 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 957/2008 derogating for the 2008/09 quota period from Regulation (EC) No 616/2007 opening and providing for the administration of certain Community tariff quotas in the sector of poultrymeat originating in Brazil, Thailand and other third countries

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Corrigendum to Commission Regulation (EC) No 826/2008 of 20 August 2008 laying down common rules for the granting of private storage aid for certain agricultural products ( OJ L 223, 21.8.2008)

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Commission Directive 2008/100/EC of 28 October 2008 amending Council Directive 90/496/EEC on nutrition labelling for foodstuffs as regards

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recommended daily allowances, energy conversion factors and definitions (1)

Commission Decision of 20 October 2008 approving certain national programmes for the control of Salmonella in flocks of broilers of Gallus gallus(notified under document number C(2008) 5699) (1)

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Commission Decision of 20 October 2008 amending Decision 2003/467/EC as regards the declaration that certain administrative regions of Poland are officially free of enzootic bovine leucosis (notified under document number C(2008) 5987) (1)

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Commission Decision of 22 October 2008 amending Decision 2007/777/EC as regards imports of certain meat products from New Caledonia into the Community (notified under document number C(2008) 6050) (1)

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Commission Decision of 10 September 2008 amending Decisions 2001/881/EC and 2002/459/EC as regards the list of border inspection posts (notified under document number C(2008) 4861) (1)

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 1041/2008 of 23 October 2008 laying down certain detailed rules for granting of assistance for the export of beef and veal which may benefit from a special import treatment in Canada (Codified version)

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 1043/2008 of 23 October 2008 fixing the export refunds on pigmeat

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 1044/2008 of 23 October 2008 fixing the export refunds on beef and veal

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 1045/2008 of 23 October 2008 fixing representative prices in the poultrymeat and egg sectors and for egg albumin, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1484/95

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Commission Decision of 21 October 2008 on financial aid from the Community for the second half of 2008 for certain Community reference laboratories in the field of animal health and live animals (notified under document number C(2008) 5976)

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Corrigendum to Commission Decision 2008/97/EC of 30 January 2008 amending Decision 93/52/EEC as regards the declaration that certain administrative regions of Italy are officially free of brucellosis (B. melitensis) and Decision 2003/467/EC as regards the declaration that certain administrative regions of Italy are officially free of bovine tuberculosis and bovine brucellosis and that certain administrative regions of Poland are officially free of enzootic bovine leucosis ( OJ L 32, 6.2.2008)

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 1029/2008 of 20 October 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council to update a reference to certain European standards (1)

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