Brussels to enforce simpler agri-food chain rules
The European Commission has pledged to strengthen health and safety rules governing the whole agri-food chain. The package should simplify legislation and increase consumer confidence and the sustainability of food production, said the Commission. The current body of EU legislation covering the food chain consists of almost 70 pieces of legislation. Following repeated calls to simplify this a new reform package, announced in May, will cut this down to five pieces of legislation. It is also intended to reduce red-tape on processes and procedures for producers, processors and distributors. The Commission said it will give special consideration to the impact of this legislation on SMEs and micro enterprises which are exempt from the most costly and burdensome elements in the legislation.
“The recent horsemeat scandal has shown that there is room for improvement, even if no health risk emerged”
Tonio Borg, health and consumer commissioner, said: “The agri-food industry is the second largest economic sector in the EU, employing over 48 million people and is worth some €750 billion a year. Europe has the highest food safety standards in the world. However, the recent horsemeat scandal has shown that there is room for improvement, even if no health risk emerged. The package of reforms comes at an opportune moment as it shows that the system can respond to challenges; it also takes on board some of the lessons learned. In a nutshell, the package aims to provide smarter rules for safer food.” “Businesses will benefit from simpler, science and risk-based rules in terms of reduced administrative burden, more efficient processes and measures to finance and strengthen the control and eradication of animal diseases and plant pests. Consumers will benefit from safer products and a more effective and more transparent system of controls along the chain,” said the Commission.
VOLUME OF RETAIL TRADE DOWN BY 0.1% IN EURO AREA
In March 2013 compared with February 2013, the volume of retail trade fell by 0.1% in the euro area2 (EA17) and by 0.2% in the EU27, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. In February retail trade decreased by 0.2% in the euro area, but rose by 0.1% in the EU27.
In March 2013, compared with March 2012, the retail sales index dropped by 2.4% in the euro area and by 1.6% in the EU27. “Food, drinks and tobacco” rose by 0.8% in the euro area and by 1.0% in the EU27. The non-food sector decreased by 0.5% and 0.6% respectively. Among the Member States for which data is available, total retail trade fell in nine, rose in 11 and remained stable in Austria. The largest decreases were registered in Portugal (-3.0%), Slovenia (-2.6%) and Ireland (-1.9%), and the highest increases in Estonia (+2.7%), Latvia (+2.1%) and Finland (+1.3%).
Starting this month the first sustainable labelled tuna from Fiji – the Albacore tuna range – will be available on the European market. The tuna range has been accredited since December 2012 with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification which gives retailers the certainty of the fishery’s sustainability credentials. The MSC is the world’s leading certification and ecolabelling program for sustainable seafood. The Fiji albacore tuna longline fishery operates in the South Pacific Ocean in Fiji’s economic exclusion zone. For three years, members of the Fiji Tuna Boat Owners Association worked to meet the MSC standard for sustainable fisheries. The Fiji Albacore tuna longline fishery has reduced its environmental impact and generated employment for the people of Fiji, the Association explained. The tuna will be available both frozen and fresh.
FIJI’S FIRST SUSTAINABLE TUNA GETS INTO EU
JUNE 2013 | RETAIL ENVIRONMENT 17
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