A lack of integration at a European level is 'severely hampering'
efforts to co-ordinate stakeholder efforts - food industry and
independent scientists - in the area of chemical contaminants in
food, warn Swedish scientists....
The European Commission has approved Air Liquide's proposed
acquisition of Messer Griesheim's industrial gas business in
Germany, the United Kingdom and the USA. The acquisition alters the
balance of power in Europe's...
The EU has outlined future border controls for animal livestock and
meat products as the run up to accession moves into its final
stages. The move aims to limit the spread of animal-borne disease
in an enlarged European Union.
A supply glut of pork coupled with prices rises has led the
European Commission to end temporary export subsidies. But some pig
producers in the UK are concerned that lower food prices pledged by
major supermarkets will drag the industry...
Germany's current one-way can deposit system should be scrapped and
replaced with a mixed strategy of reuse and recycling, according to
the Association of European Steel Producers (APEAL). The body
argues that it has the support...
The European Commission is to open an inquiry into the recent surge
in EU imports of farmed Atlantic salmon to see if safeguard duties
are necessary. Imports of farmed salmon into the EU increased by
14.7 per cent in January to September...
Expecting a higher uptake of vegetable fats by European chocolate
manufacturers following the new '5 per cent' chocolate rule, Danish
oils and fats supplier Aarhus United sees a drop in income for
2003, compounded by currency...
Scotland's salmon industry is under threat from an influx of cheap
salmon imports from Norway, which rose last year from 277,000
tonnes to 307,000 tonnes. Fish farmers in the highlands and islands
are so worried about the effect...
With accession of the new Member States due on 1 May 2004, the EU
is making appropriate arrangements to ensure a sufficient supply of
bananas to all consumers in the EU. To this end, the current import
volumes for bananas will be...
With the Commission proposal for changes to the EU sugar regime but
a few months away, Commissioner Franz Fischler explains why sugar
reform is 'unavoidable.'
A major packaging industry body in the UK has called for the
establishment of a Packaging Standards Council to deal with public
concerns over waste. In an interview with
FoodProductionDaily.com, the Industry Council for Packaging...
Two west European bakery groups are extending their presence in
eastern Europe in advance of the enlargement of the European Union
later this year. Sweden's Cerealia group is investing heavily in
its Polish business, while Luxembourg's...
Australia has warned the EU that it may retaliate against recently
imposed subsidies on European pork exports. A formal complaint was
made this week by agriculture minister Warren Truss about the
reintroduction of export refunds.
The bird flu outbreak in Texas is beginning to hurt poultry
producers. Shares in a number of US chicken processors have already
fallen, prompted by announcements by the European Union, Mexico and
South Korea that they are determined...
Organisers of the international food fair Salima 2004 claim that
exhibitor numbers are up on for the bi-annual event, to be held in
Brno, southern Moravia, from 2-5 March
Countdown to the integration of 10 new member states in Europe this
April begins under the aegis of the Irish presidency. For
manufacturers, a clear understanding of the marketplace in these
countries will be vital to pitching the...
Rexam, the UK-based global consumer packaging company, has
confirmedthe acquisition from Dutch group Hunan of all of the
shares in Poland Glassworks Holding, the holding company of Polish
glassworks, Polglass.
The packaging sector is becoming increasingly important in the
accession countries, according to a new report from MINEFI - DREE
elargissement. And leading the way is the agrofood and mass
retailing industry - the mainstay of the...
Trade in food and drink has been a traditional mainstay between
Poland and Russia, but as accession looms ever closer Poland's
position on future trade outside of the European Union has still
not been made clear, authorities...
The European Commission has warned that it might challenge
member-state bans on biotech crops in the European Court of
Justice. Bans have been imposed by Austria, France, Germany,
Greece, Italy, Luxembourg and the UK.
The European Commission has set up a new online help desk for the
development of trade from developing countries. The Commission says
the tool aims to assist the likes of food and drink manufacturers
in Central and Eastern Europe...
An extensive analysis of foodstuffs carried out in association with
the National Food Agency of Finland reveals that there are still
high levels of pesticide residue in plant origin foodstuffs and
that a significant number exceed...
A brewer in Sweden is facing the GM debate head on. The company
claims to have launched the first food product to use genetic
modification as a marketing tool.
The steel packaging industry in Central Europe is set to prosper,
as long as outmoded means of production can be upgraded. The
consumption of steel packaging in Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic
and Slovakia is projected to grow at...
The European pig meat sector faces a major crisis. The Euro is
currently very strong against the dollar, feed prices are very high
due to last summer's drought and consumer demand for pork is low.
These factors come on top of...
The Latvian Minister of Agriculture has proposed that the Latvian
government acts as a medium between the EU and Russia in an effort
to promote greater trade between the two for food products.
The Russian Agricultural Ministry is already estimating the impact
of EU enlargement on its exports of grains, claiming that
soon-to-be implemented quotas could cost it more than €300 million
year.
In a speech given yesterday in Brussels, Dr Franz Fischler, EU
Commissioner for Agricultural, Rural Development and Fisheries,
outlined a number of pressing areas relating to enlargement, with
quality and administrative issues being...
European Union Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection
David Byrne yesterday expressed confidence that Thailand was free
from avian flu that is ravaging other parts of East Asia.
A survey published today suggests that packaging companies across
Europe are taking the EU's packaging and packaging waste
directive's essential requirements seriously. The independent
survey of Europen members shows that...
Lithuanian meat processor and wholesaler Vilniaus Mesa is to invest
some 17 million litas (€4.9m) in a new plant to be located in
Vilnius, according to a report in the Baltic Business Weekly. It
would appear that the prospect if EU...
Tetra Pak has been a pioneering force in the central and eastern
European food and beverage packaging sector. However, with
accession just around the corner a series of new challenges are
about to present themselves. We spoke to a...
The movement of foodstuffs within the European boundaries will be
changed forever once the next step towards an enlarged Europe takes
place. Food and Life Sciences lawyer Raymond O’Rourke takes us
through a detailed look at some of...
Speaking in Brussels earlier this week, European Commissioner for
Health and Consumer Protection David Byrne announced the latest
development on issues relating to food safety within an enlarged
EU.
Austrian-based packaging giant the Frantschach Group has acquired a
sack production plant in Aberdeen, UK. The facility has been bought
from a subsidiary of the British Plaster Board (BPB), which has
operated the production plant...
The European Commission has welcomed the agreement reached by the
European Parliament and Council conciliation committee to increase
the minimum recycling targets for packaging waste from 25 to 55 per
cent by 2008. The agreement overcomes...
The chairman of meat processor Danish Crown has warned against
political interference in Denmark's agricultural industry. "In
general Denmark's pig producers are skilled at adjusting their
costs to developments in international...
A new regulation on smoke flavourings intended for use in or on
foods has just been published in the EU Official Journal. The new
regulation, which will not apply until 16 June 2005, comes into
force on 16 December 2003. The new law...
The European Commission this week gave the green light to
salatrims, a type of reduced-calorie fats, for use as novel food
ingredients following an application by ingredients giant Danisco.
The long-awaited approval opens the way...
The European food and drink industry registered slight growth in
2002, according to a recent report from the Confederation of the
food and drink industries of the EU (CIAA). The findings are
contained in the recently published "Data...
In the wake of terrorist attacks in the US on September 11, 2001
Europe's manufacturing industries have taken a knock but figures
released this week reveal that the food industry is managing the
course, registering a 'light...
Hard negotiations followed by new European rules put to bed
long-standing disputes over labelling issues that hung over
chocolate manufacturers. As more European manufacturers turn to
vegetable fats, the challenge is on for ingredients...
The new edition of European business, Facts and figures
reveals that manufacturing accounted for around 30 per cent of EU
employment, with food, beverages and tobacco constituting by far
the largest sector. The report uses official...
Controversial changes over two years ago to Europe's chocolate
rules - that had cocoa puritans and producers up in arms - came
into force in the summer, providing ingredients companies with a
raft of new opportunities.
EU officials are hoping that genetically modified sweetcorn may
prove to be the key to unlocking one of the bitterest trade rows in
history. Despite fierce consumer opposition to genetically modified
organisms (GMOs), the European...
Holland Sweetener company, DSM's 50-50 joint venture with
Japan-based company Tosoh took some pleasure yesterday in launching
its high intensity sweetener Twinsweet on to the European market
after years of waiting for approval...
The European Commission has put forward revised regulations on
materials that come into contact with food. Among the proposed
changes is a more modern approach to the principle that packaging
materials should not interact with the...
As a raft of new food legislation, notably the labelling of food
allergens and genetically modified organisms, enters into force in
Europe, food manufacturers cannot afford to be less than au
fait with the new rules. Under the umbrella...
European research into the potential carcinogen acrylamide has
received a massive injection of cash to boost the biggest
international project to date on toxic substances formed when food
is heated.
Measures to soften the impact of poor cereal harvests in Europe and
boost the grain market were introduced by Europe's agriculture
commissioner this week.
