The European wine sector has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to statistics from the European Commission (EC), there has been a 30% reduction in the volume of wine sold and a 50% drop in the value of sales across the EU from mid-March until to end of May 2020, compared to sales
Re-open for business in the UK: How to safely re-open restaurants, pubs, and bars
The government has announced that on 4 July 2020, it will commence the third stage of its plan to ease the ‘lockdown’ restrictions implemented in England due to COVID-19. Following the re-opening of ‘non-essential retail shops’ in stage two, this third stage will involve the re-opening of restaurants, pubs and bars as well as hairdressers…
Germany bans sugar from baby and infant tea products
On 15 May 2020, the German Federal Council approved a new regulation by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. The regulation provides for a ban of sweetened baby and infant tea and new information obligations for such products.
Ban on sugar
According to the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture it is necessary to…
Consumer Horizons: Promoting sustainability and health benefits
By Christiane Alpers on
Promoting sustainability and health benefits can lead to legal trouble in the European Union. While the EU is discussing strategies against plastics and a ban on certain single-use plastics, consumers are requesting more sustainability and extra benefits from their consumer products.
When addressing these consumers’ needs, companies should be aware that there are a number…
No-Deal Brexit: New Guidance on Producing and Labelling Food Products
By Josefine Crona & Richard Welfare on
In the final batch of technical notices, the UK Government has provided guidance on what impact traders can expect on food labelling and packaging in the event that the UK exits the EU without a Withdrawal Agreement on 29 March 2019.
Currently, EU rules, such as EU Regulation 1169/2011 or “FIC”, govern food labelling and…
Rules of Origin: a ‘hidden hard Brexit’ for the UK food industry?
By Richard Welfare & Josefine Crona on
The Food and Drink Federation (“FDF“) has published a report on the potential impact of rules of origin on UK food and drink exporters in the likely event that the UK ceases to be part of the EU customs union after Brexit.
Rules of origin are the detailed content requirements that determine whether…
Food Contact Materials – European Commission Tightens Bisphenol A Limits
By Jacqueline Mailly on
Posted in EU, Food Safety
Today, the European Commission published a new Regulation tightening the restrictions on the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in food contact materials.
BPA is used in a number of food contact applications, such as polycarbonate plastic produced for articles that are intended to be reused, such as water dispensers, kitchenware, plastic bottles, etc. BPA is…
One Step Closer to New Rules on Organic Farming
By Richard Welfare & Josefine Crona on
Posted in EU, Food Labeling
After three years of negotiations, the European Union is nearing the end of a long process to simplify and harmonize the rules for organic food production and the labeling of organic products. Council Regulation (EC) 834/3007 currently defines the minimum standards for organic products that are produced, manufactured, imported into, sold or traded within the…
Draft EU List of Authorized Novel Foods Published
By Richard Welfare on
Posted in EU, Food Safety
The European Commission has published a draft implementing Regulation setting out the proposed official EU list of authorized novel foods.
A ‘novel food’ is a food or ingredient that has not been consumed to a significant degree in the EU prior to 15 May 1997. These include products traditionally eaten outside the EU prior to…
Majority in favour of improving fairness in EU food supply chain
By Richard Welfare, Helen Kimberley & Josefine Crona on
Posted in EU, Supply chain
Initial responses to the European Commission’s public consultation on how to make the EU food supply chain fairer suggest that, bar retailers, the majority of significant stakeholders (including Member States, farmer groups, agricultural organizations and NGOs) are in favor of action at EU level to increase fairness and balance in the food supply chain.
The…