Europe Agri articles from March 2004

Europe Agri archives from March 2004

FOOD SAFETY: COMMISSION AMENDS FOOD-CONTACT MATERIALS DIRECTIVE.(Brief Article)
March 12, 2004... Directive 2002/72 of August 6, 2002 is a specific one within the meaning of Directive 89/109 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs (plastic, paper,...

FOOD SAFETY: EUROPEAN AUTHORITY HOLDS FIRST PUBLIC MEETING.
March 12, 2004... "2005 will also be an important growth year for the European Food Safety Authority", said Stuart Slorach, Chairman of the EFSA Management Board, during his speech at the meeting in Dublin Castle in Ireland on March 10. oScientific risk...

DESIGNATIONS OF ORIGIN: STANDARDISED SUMMARY FOR SPECIFICATIONS OF PROTECTED DESIGNATIONS.(Brief Article)
March 12, 2004... Publication is needed to make some of the requirements in specifications enforceable. Rulings by the Court of Justice in 2000 and 2001 stated that some of the conditions in the specifications of protected designations Parma Ham and Grana Padano...

SCOTTISH SMOKED HADDOCK GIVEN PROTECTED GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION.(Brief Article)
March 12, 2004... The European Commission has just approved a Regulation aiming to register the name "Arbroath Smokies" (smoked fish) in the EU Register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications. Arbroath Smokies will be...

FOOD AND FEED: MEPS SEEKS TOUGHER INSPECTION RULES.(members of the European Parliament )
March 12, 2004... The amendments the European Parliament has made to the draft Regulation presented on February 23, 2003 clarify the scope of the official controls: they must prevent, eliminate or reduce to acceptable levels any risks to humans and animals. They...

MEPS WAVE THROUGH PROPOSAL TO CONSOLIDATE LEGISLATION ON EXTRACTION SOLVENTS.(members of the European Parliament)(Brief Article)
March 12, 2004... Meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg on March 9, the European Parliament adopted without amendment the report by Giuseppe Gargani (EPP, Italy) on the proposed Directive to harmonise legislation on extraction solvents in the production of...

GENETIC ENGINEERING: EUROPEAN FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITY APPROVES GT73 TRANSGENIC RAPE.
March 12, 2004... The Opinion from EFSA's Scientific Panel on Genetically-Modified Organisms is based on a question raised by the European Commission regarding Monsanto's notification with a view to the marketing of GT73 rape. Scientific assessment of the...

GENETIC ENGINEERING: GERMANY PRESENTS STRICT LAW ON TRANSGENIC CROPS.
March 12, 2004... The German Government presented the Bill overhauling national legislation on genetic engineering on February 11, 2004. The legislative process should be completed this Summer or Autumn. Besides transposing Directive 2001/18 on the deliberate...

GENETIC ENGINEERING: RESTAURANTS NOT OBLIGED TO LABEL GM-FOODS.(Brief Article)
March 12, 2004... In his reply, David Byrne explained on behalf of the Commission that the new labelling regulations for food containing genetically-modified substances, specifically Article 12(1) of Regulation 1829/2003, apply to foodstuffs which are to be...

CAP REFORM: PARLIAMENT SEEKS TO ALTER PLAN FOR MEDITERRANEAN CROPS.
March 12, 2004... The European Parliament voting in favour of the report by Joseph Daul (EPP-ED, France) by 271 to 216 with 36 abstentions. The report applies to the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) 1782/2003 establishing common rules...

EU SUSPENDS POULTRY IMPORTS FROM CANADA.(Brief Article)
March 12, 2004... The European Commission decided on March 11 to suspend with immediate effect and until April 6 imports into the EU of live poultry, poultry meat and products, eggs and pet birds from Canada, following confirmation from Canadian authorities of...

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT REPORT BACKS CAP CHANGES TO ACCESSION TREATIES.(Common Agricultural Policy)(Brief Article)
March 12, 2004... The European Parliament's plenary session voted on March 11 to approve a Commission proposal changing the Accession Treaties to include Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms agreed in June 2003. MEPs adopted a non-binding Resolution on...

ENLARGEMENT: PREPARATIONS FOR 2004 AND 2007 WAVES SCRUTINISED IN PARLIAMENT.
March 12, 2004... The Parliament's debate came ahead of votes that took place on March 11 on three enlargement-related reports. One is an overall report on the state of preparedness of the ten acceding countries (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia,...

FAO AND IFS SIGN THIRD WORLD AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AGREEMENT.(United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation , International Foundation for Science)
March 12, 2004... The International Foundation for Science (IFS), an independent NGO helping young scientists from developing countries, and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have signed an agreement that will hopefully foster greater...

ANIMAL HEALTH: STRICT PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES NEEDED TO TACKLE BIRD 'FLU, SAYS FAO.(United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization)
March 12, 2004... The disease has had disastrous affects on the poultry industry through its impact on international trade and domestic consumption of poultry products. Some 100 million birds have already died or been culled in the efforts to control the deadly...

CARLSBERG ENDS COLLABORATION WITH ORKLA.(Carlsberg Brewery Ltd.; Orkla Borregaard A/S)(Brief Article)
March 12, 2004... Danish brewery group Carlsberg has decided to end its collaboration with Norwegain food and drinks giant Orkla, by taking over all their joint interests in the beer industry in a cash payment of 14.8 billion Danish Kroner (Euro 1.6 million)....

AIDES ITALIENNES AUX PRODUCTEURS DE PECHES ET NECTARINES DECLAREES ILLEGALES.(European Commission rules against Italian government plan to offer aid to peach, nectarine producers)(Brief Article)
March 26, 2004... Le projet du gouvernement italien d'accorder des aides aux producteurs de peches et de nectarines est incompatible avec les regles d'aides d'Etat communautaires. C'est ce qu'a indique le 16 mars la Commission europeenne apres avoir etudie un...

OGM: LA NOUVELLE LOI ALLEMANDE CRITIQUEE DE PART ET D'AUTRE.(German agricultural entities debate new German law on genetically modified organisms)
March 26, 2004... Agrar, l'association allemande de l'industrie des pesticides et des produits de phytoprotection, pretend que la loi allemande sur les cultures transgeniques entrave l'usage equitable desdites 'technologies environnementales' plus qu'elle ne...

BIOTECHNOLOGIE: SCIENTIFIQUES ET INTELLECTUELS DEBATTENT DES RELATIONS ENTRE LA SCIENCE ET LA SOCIETE.(European Commission hosts conference on "Modern Biology and Visions of Humanity")
March 26, 2004... Lors de son discours d'ouverture, le commissaire Philippe Busquin a souligne le fait que la conference "Biologie moderne et visions de l'humanite" constitue un evenement unique dans la mesure ou "c'est la premiere fois que la Commission...

RIZ TRANSGENIQUE: DEMANDE D'IMPORTATION PAR LA SOCIETE BAYER CROPSCIENCE.(European Union, Greenpeace concern over LibertyLink rice genetically treated with Bayer herbicide)
March 26, 2004... Selon la Directive 2001/18 sur la dissemination des OGM dans l'environnement, toute demande d'importation ou de culture de plantes genetiquement modifiees est evaluee d'abord par le gouvernement a qui elle est adressee. Les Etats membres...

PECHE: LA COMMISSION PARLEMENTAIRE RECLAME DES POUVOIRS ELARGIS POUR LES CONSEILS CONSULTATIFS REGIONAUX.(European Parlement's Fishing Commission enlarges control over Regional Consulting Councils )
March 26, 2004... La commission de la peche du Parlement europeen tient a ce que les pecheurs aient leur mot a dire dans la gestion de la Politique commune de la Peche (PCP). Telle est la position qu'elle a exprimee lors de l'adoption d'un rapport de Sean O...

BUDGET: AVERTISSEMENT DU COPA-COGECA AU SUJET DES PERSPECTIVES FINANCIERES.(European Council freezing agriculture funds to current levels through 2013 )
March 26, 2004... Reunis en Conseil europeen, en octobre 2002, les chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement ont decide de "geler" les fonds alloues a l'agriculture jusqu'en 2013 avec, tout au plus, un taux annuel d'ajustement lie a l'inflation de 1%. Ce faisant, il n'a...

COMMERCE ALIMENTAIRE: RESTITUTIONS A L'EXPORTATION: EXEMPTIONS POUR LES NOUVEAUX ETATS MEMBRES.(European Commission lifts some regulations regarding exports of products for 10 newest EU countries)(Brief Article)
March 26, 2004... La Commission europeenne a, le 24 mars, leve les regles relatives aux restitutions a l'exportation de produits agricoles pour les dix Etats qui entreront dans l'Union le 1er mai. La decision prendra effet des l'adhesion. Le reglement adopte en...

ETABLISSEMENT DE TENEURS MAXIMUM EN RESIDUS POUR LA VIANDE ET LE MIEL.(European Commission sets limits on veterinary medicine residue allowable in food products)(Brief Article)
March 26, 2004... La Commission europeenne a fixe, le 24 mars, les limites maximales de residus (LMR) de trois medicaments veterinaires presents dans certains aliments d'origine animale: l'acide oxolinique (antibiotique) administre aux vaches, l'antibiotique...

UE/CAP VERT: PROLONGATION DE L'ACCORD DE PECHE UE/CAP VERT.(European Commission continues EU fishing accord with Cap-Vert)(Brief Article)
March 26, 2004... La Commission europeenne a procede, le 22 mars, a la prolongation formelle de l'accord de peche entre l'Union europeenne et le Cap-Vert jusqu'au 30 juin 2005 (cet accord, qui represente pour l'UE une depense annuelle de 680.000 euros, devait...

BANANES: L'ELARGISSEMENT DE L'UE OFFRE DE NOUVEAUX MARCHES AUX PRODUCTEURS.(European Union to decide on taxation policy on bananas 2004-06)
March 26, 2004... Dans les prochaines semaines, l'UE decidera de l'application du systeme transitoire de contingentement tarifaire aux importations de bananes entre 2004 et 2006. A partir de janvier 2006, un systeme uniquement tarifaire sera mis en place. Selon...

CEREALES: HAUSSE PROBABLE DE LA PRODUCTION DE L'UE.(United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization predicts increase in grain production in 2004)(Brief Article)
March 26, 2004... Selon l'Organisation des Nations unies pour l'Alimentation et l'Agriculture (FAO, l'Union europeenne devrait voir sa production cerealiere fort augmenter cette annee, apres la secheresse de 2003. L'elargissement contribuera lui aussi a...

NOUVELLE PUBLICATION DE LA DG AGRICULTURE: LE "SECTEUR HORTICOLE DANS L'UNION EUROPEENNE".(new Fact Sheet from European Commission on Agriculture on Politique Agricole Commune )
March 26, 2004... La toute derniere publication de la Direction generale de l' Agriculture de la Commission europeenne est une brochure (fact sheet) sur le secteur horticole dans l'Union. L'objectif de cette collection est d'eclairer les milieux agricoles et,...

SOUFFLET FINALISE SA REPRISE DE LA MALTERIE SLAVUTA EN UKRAINE.(French firm Soufflet to take control of Ukranian malt producer Baltic Beverages Holding)(Brief Article)
March 26, 2004... Annoncee en juillet 2003, la reprise par le groupe Soufflet de la malterie Slavuta, leader en Ukraine, vient d'etre finalisee. Le groupe francais entend en accroitre rapidement la capacite. La transaction, conclue avec le groupe ukrainien...

CALENDRIER : MANIFESTATIONS EUROPEENNES SUR L'AGRICULTURE ET L'ALIMENTATION2004.(Calendar of Agricultural and Food conventions)(Calendar)
March 26, 2004... Mars * Seconde conference internationale des utilisateurs de SPOT-VEGETATION: La seconde conference internationale s'adressant aux utilisateurs des donnees d'observation de la Terre "SPOT-VEGETATION" se deroulera du 24 au 26 mars 2004...

LA COMMISSION AUTORISE CARLSBERG A ACQUERIR LE BRASSEUR HOLSTEN.(European Commission approves Carlsberg brewery acquisition of Holsten)(Brief Article)
March 26, 2004... La Commission europeenne a donne son feu vert, le 17 mars, a l'acquisition du brasseur allemand Holsten par l'entreprise danoise Carlsberg. L'operation ne souleve pas de probleme de concurrence, les activites des parties ne se chevauchant que...

KERRY RACHETE LES INGREDIENTS ALIMENTAIRES DE QUEST.(food-agriculture company Kerry pens supplies agreement with Imperial Chemical Industry )
March 26, 2004... Le groupe agroalimentaire irlandais Kerry vient de conclure un accord avec Imperial Chemical Industry (ICI) pour lui racheter l'activite ingredients alimentaires de Quest. Dans cette activite, qui est cedee pour 354 millions d'euros, Quest...

BAYERNLAND NEGOCIE AVEC ENTREMONT LE RACHAT D'UNE USINE DE FROMAGE.(Bayernland negotiates with Entremont to acquire cheese factory in Rangau, Germany)(Brief Article)
March 26, 2004... Le groupe Bayernland poursuit ses entretiens avec le groupe francais Entremont a Annecy en vue du rachat de son usine d'emmental situee a Rangau, dont la production est de l'ordre de 7 500 tonnes par an. Avec un chiffre d'affaires total de...

INTERBREW AMBEV, NOUVEAU LEADER MONDIAL DE LA BIERE.(alliance between AmBev and Interbrew leads to new world leader in beer market)(Brief Article)
March 26, 2004... Apres avoir minimise dans un premier temps la portee de ses negociations avec le bresilien AmBev, le brasseur belge Interbrew a officialise le 3 mars une mega-alliance qui change fortement la donne sur le marche mondial. La nouvelle entite...

ARLA FOODS HELLAS DISSOUTE POUR CAUSE DE RESULTATS INSUFFISANTS.(Arla Foods Hellas to dissolve due to poor results)(Brief Article)
March 26, 2004... L'entreprise commune creee par le groupe scandinave Arla Foods et la societe grecque Delta Dairies en l'an 2000, sous le nom d Arla Foods Hellas, a ete dissoute pour cause de resultats insuffisants. Arla Foods detenait 60% du capital de...

CARLSBERG/OKOCIM VEUT RACHETER DES PART DANS SA FILIALE POLONAISE OKOCIM.(Carlsberg brewery offer to buy back Polish subsidiary Carlsberg Okocim stock)
March 26, 2004... Le groupe danois de brasseries Carlsberg a lance une offre de rachat des 7% d'actions qu'il ne detient pas encore dans sa filiale polonaise Carlsberg Okocim. Cette offre de 25,50 zlotys (environ 5,50 euros) par action est valable du 15 mars au...

ACCORD ASSOCIATED BRITISH FOODS/UNILEVER UNE ACTIVITE DE CORPS GRAS AU MEXIQUE.(Associated British Foods to acquire Unilever's Mexican subsidiary )(Brief Article)
March 26, 2004... Le groupe agroalimentaire Associated British Foods (ABF) vient d'annoncer la conclusion d'un accord avec le geant anglo-neerlandais Unilever portant sur l'acquisition de son activite corps gras au Mexique. Le montant du rachat s'eleve a 110...