The EU’s new centralised process for the approval of novel foods has been welcomed by the food industry – but there are fears over the implications on intellectual property.
More than 150 organisations, including leading UK brand-owners, have backed a November call by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) for a ban on oxodegradable plastics in packaging, including carrier bags.
A former Young’s Seafood factory is set to reopen in Scotland and create up to 20 new jobs, following investment by the European Commission (EC) and the Scottish government.
Europe’s scientific food safety body is urging the EU to adopt its newly established safe intake levels for glutamate food additives after raising fears about consumption rates.
Scientists – including those in food science and nutrition – need to start explaining to politicians and the public generally some potentially uncomfortable truths, or risk being shackled with policies that are not evidence-based, a leading scientist...
Processed meat producers worry that the European Commission (EC) could reduce the maximum level of nitrites that are allowed to be used as a preservative in cured meat products such as ham.
EU legislation designed to avoid consumers being mislead about the country of origin of ingredients contained in compound foods they purchase is likely to cause headaches for food manufacturers, according to a legal expert.
The UK’s frozen food sector is celebrating a partial victory with the European Commission (EC) over a disagreement relating to the date labelling of frozen meat products required under the Food Information for Consumers (FIC) Regulations, which came into...
A transatlantic trade deal – worth billions of pounds to European food and drink manufacturers – could be derailed by Germany’s fears of genetically modified (GM) products, according to a former leading Brussels bureaucrat.
Food and drink manufacturers would face higher long-term costs if Britain quits the EU, but the move would have less impact on business than some “scare-mongering” reports suggest.
Plans to cut red tape, announced by the new Conservative government and the European Commission (EC), have been welcomed by the business community, including representatives of food and drink manufacture.
Food safety guidelines for insects destined for human consumption have been created for the first time in response to their likelihood of becoming widely consumed in Europe.
British Sugar has temporarily avoided a costly and time-consuming investigation into its market practices, with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) confirming it will not pursue the probe for now.
A row has broken out between the UK’s bacon producers and the European Commission (EC) over proposals contained in the latest draft of EU guidance on labelling of flavourings, which would ban the use of the term ‘natural’ on products traditionally smoked...
Associated British Foods (ABF) has blamed lower sugar prices and weak EU sales volumes for its poor sugar revenues in an interim management statement today (July 10).
Consumers could be put off eating fish, if new EU rules governing the labelling dates of frozen fish are not better defined, the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) has warned.
Small food processors would pay for hygiene inspections under proposed EU rules after seeming exempt, and time is running out to block this, according to Bob Salmon, director, Food Solutions.
Associated British Foods (ABF) faces fines for anti-competitive practices if a competition authority probe just launched finds it guilty in the latest round of a longstanding feud with Napier Brown.
Karro Food Group has abandoned the voluntary Dead Weight Average Pig Price (DAPP) sample, dealing another major blow to the scheme following Cranswick’s shock withdrawal last week.
The long-awaited reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will create a fairer, more market orientated, greener and stronger food production chain.
Food processors could face soaring costs for official inspections as a consequence of the European Commission’s (EC’s) attempt to standardise ‘official controls’ governing food safety regulation across the EU.
Charging the private sector for European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) work will not generate enough cash and compromise the agency’s independence, a European Commission working group has found.
In 2013 food labelling will again be a major preoccupation. But country of origin labelling (COOL) will not play a part. Anyone who thought they might have understood the implications will have a rude awakening if they see the European Commission (EC)...
Reform of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is unlikely to happen for at least another two years because MEPs and the European Commission (EC) are struggling to agree on the budget, it has emerged.
The European Commission (EC) declined to comment on Lord Justice Leveson’s report into the culture, practice and ethics of the press yesterday (November 29), despite one of its officials claiming in the summer that the British media often misrepresented...
Fresh efforts by the European Commission (EC) to clarify the status of food enzymes as ‘processing aids’ or ‘ingredients’ could reopen the vexed question of labelling genetically modified micro-organisms (GMMOs) in food, according to one regulatory expert.
A second reading of the European Parliament's (EP's) report on replacing the regulatory framework for foods for particular nutritional uses (PARNUTS) is now unlikely before early 2013, but deliberations on regulating some categories could continue...
The newly-formed Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association (AIPIA) is urging the European Commission (EC) to legislate in order to clarify which AIP technologies and materials can be used, and how they can be applied.
Manufacturers are still not sure how much flexibility they have in wording health claims because guidance from the European Commission (EC) is not yet available.
Higher prices could result from the recent government agreement preventing illegal eggs being exported to the UK, according to food and drink manufacturers.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have objected to the European Commission’s (EC's) proposal for an approved list of Article 13.1 claims, urging more consideration of what should be included in the list.
Beneo-Institute has supported criticism of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for taking a pharmaceutical line on assessing claims under Article 13.1 of the EU Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation.
The European Commission’s plans to abolish beet sugar quotas by 2015 will be welcomed by food manufacturers, predicted market analysts who slammed the current sugar regime for being “completely illogical”.
The future of pricing of agricultural commodities lies in the balance today as the European Commission (EC) announces plans to reform the Common Agricultural Policy, with major reform of the sugar regime expected to feature in the package.
Fish prices are set to rise in the long-term as imports into Europe will be insufficient to ensure supplies, warned speakers at a conference held earlier this week to debate the future of UK fishing industry and the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
Ambitious reforms of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) will not come into force intact, while changes that are made will be difficult to implement, one expert has warned.
The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) has criticised “UK government plc” for what it describes as a damaging and misleading response to the deadly European E.coli crisis that has left this country's fresh produce industry in turmoil.
The future for spirulina – the blue colouring derived from algae that is used in Nestlé's Smarties – remains uncertain as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) reported that it had delayed its investigations into this and a number of other substances used...
Assuming the European Commission, Parliament and Council can agree on some outstanding issues, the EC Food Information Regulation will be adopted shortly.
The European Commission (EC) has launched a proposal to merge and clarify the existing European rules on protecting national and regional foodstuff names.
