Our latest news and views from Brussels takes in a US court ruling could help lift some of the duties imposed by Donald Trump’s administration, France's shaky glyphosate plan to ban chlorpyrifos and the suspension of Ukraine poultry imports over avian flu fears.
Our latest news and views from Brussels takes in a US court ruling could help lift some of the duties imposed by Donald Trump’s administration, France's shaky glyphosate plan to ban chlorpyrifos and the suspension of Ukraine poultry imports over avian flu fears.
Authorities in Ukraine reacted with shock after learning that the EU is suspending poultry meat imports following recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian flu.
According to an operational report received from the European Commission last night, the import of poultry meat, poultry meat and thermally processed poultry products from Ukraine has been temporarily suspended,” reported the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection. “However, eggs and egg products are not subject to these restrictions.”
Taking into account the reports of numerous equivalence assessment missions, the results of negotiations and preliminary agreements, the aforementioned EU decision is extremely unexpected for the Ukrainian side, the agency said.
The State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection said that, in accordance with its international obligations, Ukraine, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), promptly informed its international trading partners of an avian influenza case.
"Ukrainian measures for the control and eradication of bird flu have been recognized as equivalent to those implemented by EU member states," the agency said.
Image: Getty/Aleksandra Aleshchenko
The European Commission has approved the application for registration of Arseniko Naxou in the register of protected designations of origin (PDO).
Arseniko Naxou is a ripened, hard cheese that is traditionally made from unpasteurized goat and sheep milk, with a specific spicy, intense and salty-sweet taste. This cheese is produced and matured in several places on the island of Naxos and the Little Cyclades. The manufacturing process is closely linked to the knowledge of the cheese maker who is able to know the period of cheese production depending on the climatic conditions of the region and the composition of the vegetation.
These new names will join the list of 1,460 already protected products - names available in the database.
Image: Getty/saiko3p
Spain’s olive oil association Asemesa has claimed a US court ruling could help lift some of the duties imposed by Donald Trump’s administration.
Spain – the world’s largest producer of olives and olive oil – has been hard hit by import duties of around 35% imposed in 2018.
In January 2019, the EU launched a case before the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the US challenging duties on imports of Spanish olives.
The EU opened legal action against the duties at the World Trade Organization a year ago.
US authorities have now said that some of the Commerce Department’s interpretations of the U.S. Tariff Act were arbitrary.
“The ruling is a very important endorsement of the EU’s legal action at the WTO,” said Asemesa, adding that duties could be lowered to 20% from 35% as a result of the U.S. court decision.
The EU added the decision could have far-reaching consequences for other agricultural sectors.
“US authorities have concluded that certain EU support measures for Spanish olive producers under the common agricultural policy (CAP) are contrary to WTO rules and can be countervailed. Given the importance of such support for EU farmers, the US measures could have far-reaching consequences for the EU's agricultural model and set precedents in the WTO,” it said.
Image: iStock/Crédits Dutodom
France is to continue with its plan to ban glyphosate, despite sales of the weedkiller growing 10% in 2018, a fact which may put pressure on the country’s aim to ban the controversial herbicide in a majority of agricultural practices by the end of 2020 and to halve the use of pesticides by 2025. The plan is also at odds with the EU, which extended its authorisation on the use of glyphosate project to 2022.
“The commitments made by the President will be kept […] glyphosate will be banned for most uses by the end of 2020,” Agriculture Minister Didier Guillaume told a National Assembly hearing on 9 January.
The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) is banning more than half of the nation’s glyphosate-containing herbicide products. Of the 69 products currently available in France, 36 will be withdrawn from the market immediately and their use forbidden by the end of 2020, ‘due to a lack or absence of scientific data ruling out any genotoxic risk’. These products account for nearly 75% by weight of glyphosate-based products sold in France last year for agricultural and other uses.
But critics question the validity of the plans. For one, Dr Bob Reiter, Head of Research & Development at Bayer, has said no alternative to glyphosate is going to 'magically' appear in the market in the next five years.
Image: Getty/narongcp
UK chancellor Sajid Javid has confirmed £3 billion of funding will be given to UK farmers over the next two years to support them after the UK leaves the EU.
Javid said the cash will allow farmers to “plan for the future, sow their crops and care for their livestock with confidence.”
The UK will leave the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Direct Payments scheme, which supports farmers across Europe with subsidies, in 2020. This will be replaced by a new system based on public money for public goods.
He said the money will allow the funding for Direct Payments for 2020 to continue at the same level as 2019 and supplement the remaining EU funding that farmers will receive for development projects until 2023 at the latest.
“When we leave the EU and are freed from the Common Agricultural Policy, we will be able to support our vital rural communities – who are a cornerstone of life in the UK – with a fairer and less bureaucratic system,” said Javid.
“Farmers can enter the New Year with confidence that they have our backing and will be able to thrive after Brexit.”
Defra secretary Theresa Villiers added: “Outside the EU we will have a simpler, fairer funding system – one that rewards farmers for enhancing our environment and safeguarding our high animal welfare standards.
“We are committed to making sure our rural communities feel the benefits of Brexit and will ensure our farmers get a better deal.
“The CAP is an EU policy that provides financial support to farmers in Member States. The Direct Payments scheme forms the majority of spending under the CAP and provides subsidies to farmers based on the area of land under management.
“The funding announced today will be available from late 2020, as in previous years.”
Image: iStock/CharlieAJA
