For current page and links to other news pages, see Food Law News
20 December 2004 GM FOOD - Oilseed Rape Genetically Modified: Council Discussions
20 December 2004 EFSA - EFSA Management Board reiterates its confidence in the independence and commitment to transparency of its Scientific Panels
17 December 2004 GMOs - EESC states that limit for GMOs in conventional seed must be set at detection threshold
15 December 2004 PESTICIDES - Kyprianou welcomes Parliament and Council agreement on EU maximum residue levels
15 December 2004 PESTICIDES - Pesticide residues in food: more emphasis on consumer health
14 December 2004 PACKAGING - Judgments of the Court of Justice in Cases C-463/01 and C-309/02 - Commission of the European Communities v Federal Republic of Germany
10 December 2004 CONTAMINANTS – Mycotoxins – EC Permitted Levels
7 December 2004 HEALTH CLAIMS – Council discussions on nutrition and health claims on foods
6 December 2004 ZOONOSES - Emerging Zoonotic Diseases - Council conclusions
6 December 2004 HEALTH CLAIMS – Council discusses nutrition and health claims on foods
30 November 2004 GM FOOD - EFSA concludes guidance document for the risk assessment of genetically modified plants and derived food and feed
29 November 2004 EFSA - EFSA response to report of Friends of the Earth Europe regarding risk assessments of the EFSA GMO Panel
29 November 2004 GMO - Draft decision on genetically modified maize MON 863 to be referred to Council
26 November 2004 BSE - Panel of scientists require more data to evaluate suspected case of BSE in a goat
26 November 2004 BSE - EFSA provides preliminary advice on health risks of goat milk and derived products with regards to BSE/TSE
25 November 2004 CONTAMINANTS - Pesticide residues in food: more emphasis on consumer health
19 November 2004 LABELLING - EFSA provides scientific advice for labelling of food allergen derivatives: nine evaluations finalised
18 November 2004 INFANT FORMULAE - EFSA Panel advises on how to avoid microbiological risks in infant formulae – at home and in hospital
8 November 2004 EFSA - Creating a European network to enhance risk assessments regarding the food chain: where does EFSA's Advisory Forum stand today?
8 November 2004 HORMONES - EU-US: EU requests WTO to confirm that there is no justification for US/Canada to continue to apply sanctions
5 November 2004 CONTAMINANTS - Dioxin contamination: EU traceability and alert notifications systems work
4 November 2004 FLAVOURINGS - EFSA adopts two opinions on flavourings: further intake data required to pursue risk assessments
1 November 2004 PARNUTS - Proposal for a Commission Directive on foods intended to meet the expenditure of intense muscular effort
29 October 2004 GM FOOD - EFSA reaffirms safety of MON 863 maize
28 October 2004 BSE - Commission submits French Research Findings on TSE in a goat to Expert Panel
28 October 2004 CONTAMINANTS - EC Standing Committee Meeting 12 October 2004 and Commission Working Group Meeting of 1 October 2004
28 October 2004WEIGHTS - Commission proposes deregulation of pack sizes
28 October 2004 ADDITIVES - Consultation on Proposal for a Directive to amend Directive 95/2/EC and Directive 94/35/EC from the European parliament and council
26 October 2004 GM FOOD - Genetically modified NK603 maize authorised for both food and feed
13 October 2004 CONTAMINANTS - New EU rules on PAH levels in food, mainly on benzo(a)pyrene
13 October 2004CONTAMINANTS - EU rules on ochratoxin A extended to coffee, wine and grape juice
11 October 2004ADDITIVES - Commission proposes revised rules on food additives reducing nitrates and nitrites levels
8 October 2004 COMMISSION - Hearing of Markos Kyprianou (health and consumer protection) by the European Parliament
4 October 2004PARNUTS - Draft recast Commission Directive on infant formulae and follow-on formulae
29 September 2004ADDITIVES - EFSA advises on the safety of paraben usage in food
22 September 2004 MILK HYGIENE - EU clears way for Russian dairy exports to EU
21 September 2004BSE - All restrictions on Portuguese exports lifted
14 September 2004EFSA - How can EFSA measure its impact and success? EFSA Management Board reviews plans for a formal evaluation of the Authoritys work in 2005
8 September 2004 GMOs - Commission proposal on GM maize GT73 to be sent to Council
8 September 2004GMOs - Inscription of MON 810 GM maize varieties in the Common EU Catalogue of Varieties
7 September 2004 SPEECH - Speech to the Informal Agriculture Council by David BYRNE, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection
2 September 2004 RUSSIA - Russia-EU relations: Trade in animal products will continue after 1 October
1 September 2004 POULTRY - 20% testing requirement for imports of poultry meat from Brazil lifted
30 August 2004 COMMITTEES - New advisory group on the food chain created
11 August 2004FORTIFICATION - New ruling on enriched food in Denmark
10 August 2004IMPORTS - Commission suspends imports of ostriches from South Africa after avian influenza outbreaks
26 July 2004 POULTRY - Avian influenza in Asia : prolongation of import embargo on poultry products until 15 December
19 July 2004 GMOs - Commission authorises import of GM-maize for use in animal feed
19 July 2004 GMOs - Council discussion on genetically modified food NK 603
16 July 2004 IMPORTS - EU eases food imports from China after significant improvements in veterinary standards
29 June 2004GMOs - Council fails to reach agreement on GM maize NK603
29 June 2004 SPEECH - The role of diet: How to inform consumers. Speech by David BYRNE
(European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection), European Food Law Conference, Brussels
25 June 2004 GMOs - Preparation of the Environment Council, 28 June 2004: Placing on the market of NK 603, a genetically modified maize product - possibly decision
25 June 2004 GMOs - Commission proposes authorisation of NK603 maize
21 June 2004 BEEF LABELLING - Council discussions on Commission evaluation of beef labelling legislation
18 June 2004 SPEECH - A nutritious food chain for the consumer: Thinking beyond tomorrow - Speech by David BYRNE (European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Affairs) to International Food Conference, Dublin
3 June 2004 PARNUTS - Consultation on a consolidated Directive of the European Parliament and Council on foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses
28 May 2004 CLAIMS / FORTIFICATION - Background on discussions to be held in the Council
19 May 2004 GM FOOD - Commission authorises import of canned GM-sweet corn under new strict labelling conditions - consumers can choose
11 May 2004SPEECH - SPS measures: Developing countries - Speech by David BYRNE (European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection)
27 April 2004EFSA - EFSA Management Board confirms commitment to delivering independent, high quality scientific advice in reasonable timeframes
27 April 2004BEEF LABELLING - Commission adopts a report on the implementation of beef labelling legislation by Member States
26 April 2004 CONTAMINANTS - Dioxin content of Baltic Salmon - Council discussions
26 April 2004GM FOOD - Genetically modified maize BT 11 - Council discussions
26 April 2004PESTICIDES - Byrne welcomes Council support on establishing common maximum residue levels
26 April 2004 OFFICIAL CONTROLS / HYGIENE - Byrne welcomes completion of extensive review of food and feed controls and hygiene rules
23 April 2004 PARNUTS - Consultation on Draft Commission Directive on foods intended to meet the expenditure of intense muscular effort
15 April 2004 PARNUTS - Preliminary draft Commission Directive on infant formulae and follow-on formulae
15 April 2004ENLARGEMENT - Safe food in an EU of 25 Member States: final steps towards enlargement on 1 May
13 April 2004FOOD SAFETY - Children risk choking: new EU measures to withdraw jelly mini-cups
31 March 2004 PACKAGING - European Parliament votes on improved rules on food packaging
30 March 2004HYGIENE - European Parliament votes on better food safety rules
30 March 2004POULTRY - Restrictions lifted on poultry imports from the USA and Canada. Only Texas and a part of British Columbia still restricted
25 March 2004LABELLING - EFSA provides scientific basis for labelling of food allergens: Current evidence does not allow determination of intake thresholds
22 March 2004POULTRY - Suspension of poultry imports from the USA after an avian influenza outbreak prolonged
16 March 2004CONTACT MATERIALS - Preliminary draft Commission proposal for plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food
16 March 2004 CONTACT MATERIALS - Preliminary draft Commission proposal for regulating recycled plastic for use in contact with food
11 March 2004EFSA - EFSA Board looks forward to 2005 and further expansion of its scientific activities
11 March 2004POULTRY - Commission suspends EU poultry imports from Canada after avian influenza outbreak
9 March 2004EXTRACTION SOLVENTS - European Parliament votes on codification proposal on extraction solvents
9 March 2004 OFFICIAL CONTROLS - European Paliament votes on reinforced controls throughout the food chain
9 March 2004OFFICIAL CONTROLS - "New controls will enhance enforcement" says Commissioner Byrne as Parliament backs new law
24 February 2004ORGANIC FOOD - Adoption of Regulation on Organic production
18 February 2004GM FOOD - Decision on GM maize NK603 to be referred to Council
5 February 2004PARNUTS - Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-24/00 - Commission of the European Communities v French Republic - Fortified Drinks
3 February 2004 OFFICIAL CONTROLS - Third update on EU negotiations on food and feed regulations
28 January 2004CONTAMINANTS - New regulations on contaminated chilli products
27 January 2004PACKAGING - EU proposal on food contact materials
23 January 2004 POULTRY - Avian Influenza: EFSA to address possible implications for animal and human health
23 January 2004 POULTRY - Imports of poultry from Thailand suspended
20 January 2003 EFSA - EFSA Board looks at latest developments and move to Parma