The European Parliament is next month set to vote on a report that
calls obesity a "European epidemic" and proposes that all countries
implement certain measures to combat the growing condition.
The presence of low-level formaldehyde in gelling agents like
carrageenans and alginates does not pose a threat to human health,
the European Food Standards Authority (EFSA) has reported.
There will be no special measures to cover food products from
cloned animals in the EU, member states have agreed, following news
the offspring of a cloned cow was growing up in the UK.
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 Commission has lifted extra controls on imports of US
corn products for unauthorised genetically modified material,
claiming that these are no longer necessary.
Cargill is seeking EU approval for its sweetener Xtend Sucromalt,
which it claims can bring slow energy release and low glycaemic
response to a wider range of applications.
Food industry and consumer groups are poles apart over the question
of mandatory nutrition labelling with government opinion somewhere
between the two.
EFSA has concluded that the use of cassia gum - complying with
newly defined specifications as an additive for proposed food uses
- is not a safety concern.
Consumer group Which? has called for a total ban on the advertising
of unhealthy foods in the UK before the 9PM watershed as the most
effective way to protect childrens diets.
The Confederation of Food and Drink Industries of the EU (CIAA) has
outlined its strategy in lobbying EU legislators in the upcoming
year on environmental policies and international trade issues.
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" .
Europe's Food Safety Authority has ruled that a
genetically-modified cotton plant, which can be used for food
applications, presents no cause for concern.
The past 12 months have seen several important developments on the
European regulatory scene, which will play a big role in shaping
the supplements and health foods industries for the future.
If businesses are not aware of the rights of temporary workers,
Christmas profits could be eroded by costly employment disputes
warns law firm Eversheds.
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.
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...
Europe's food safety authority has issued draft guidance for the
renewal of authorisations of existing genetically modified products
lawfully placed on the market.
The UK's minister for public health has reaffirmed the government's
"commitment to work in partnership with industry on key areas
such as advertising, labelling and education".
EFSA is regarding its role in implementing the new European
nutrition and health claims regulation as both an opportunity and a
challenge, but is concerned about the timeframe it will have to
evaluate.
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.
Australia's government will work with industry to reduce trans
fatty acids in Australian food, it announced this week, despite
figures that suggest intake of the fats among the population is
within safe limits.
French wine authorities have laid down plans to ban the
controversial use of wood chips in higher quality appellation
controllee wine, after the practice was approved by the European
Commission.
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.
A successful outcome from the currently suspended Doha Development
Round of WTO trade negotiations is still possible, but agriculture
remains a key issue of difficulty.
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.
The European Court of First Instance confirmed this week that
Jungbunzlauer (JBL) and Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM)
engaged in an illegal citric acid price fixing cartel, and has as a
result upheld the original fines imposed.