Food Law News - 2014

For current news, see Food Law News. For other years, see: Food Law News - Index

EU: 15-16 December 2014 CASEINS – Council Discussions on General Approach to Updating the Casein Controls
EU: 15-16 December 2014 LABELLING – Council Discussion on Country of Origin Labelling: Request for Commission to Publish Report
EU: 15-16 December 2014 OFFICIAL CONTROLS - Proposed EU Legislation: Council Discussions
EU: 11 December 2014 PESTICIDES - Over 97% of foods in EU contain pesticide residues within legal limits
EU: 11 December 2014 LABELLING - EU consumers to benefit from better labelling as of 13 December 2014
EU: 10 December 2014 GMOs - EU countries get more latitude on the cultivation of GMOs
EU: 9 December 2014 CONTACT MATERIALS – Recycled plastic materials in contact with foods: Council discussions
UK: 6 December 2014 ENFORCEMENT - Report to the European Commission on Progress in 2013 towards Implementation of the UK Multi-Annual National Control Plan
EU: 4 December 2014 GMOs - Deal reached on new rules allowing flexibility for EU countries to ban GMO crops
EU: 4 December 2014 GMOs - Commissioner Andriukaitis welcomes provisional political agreement on GMO cultivation

INT: 28 November 2014 CODEX – Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses: Report of 36th Session
UK: 26 November 2014 HYGIENE - Guidance for Enforcement Authorities and Food Businesses on Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, Annex I regarding the Use of Private Water Supplies in Primary Production
EU: 25 November 2014 NOVEL FOODS - MEPs call for moratorium on nano-foods and labelling of cloned meat
INT: 21 November 2014 CODEX: Committee on Food Hygiene: Report of 46th Session
INT: 14 November 2014 CODEX - Coordinating Committee For Latin America and the Caribbean: Report of 19th Session
UK: 13 November 2014 MEAT PRODUCTS – Summary of responses to consultation and government decision
EU: 13 November 2014 HYGIENE – Court Judgement: Contamination of poultry meat by salmonella
EU: 13 November 2014 ADDITIVES – Court Judgement: Compulsory labelling for citrus fruits that are subject to post-harvest processing
UK: 12 November 2014 ENFORCEMENT - The Food Law Code of Practice (England) Review
EU: 11 November 2014 GMOs - Environment Committee backs flexibility for EU countries to ban GMO crops
INT: 7 November 2014 CODEX - Coordinating Committee for Asia: Report of 19th Session

INT: 15 and 17 October 2014 WTO SPS COMMITTEE - Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures: Formal Meeting: Russia contributes to sanitary-phytosanitary committee, but also attracts concerns

EU: 29 September 2014 PESTICIDES – Council Discussions: Pesticides - maximum residue levels
EU: 25-26 September 2014 FLAVOURINGS – Updating listing of permitted flavourings: Council discussions
EU: 25-26 September 2014 CONTAMINANTS – Derogation for traditionally smoked food - polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Council discussions
EU: 25-26 September 2014 ADDITIVES – Updating the list of permitted additives: Council discussions
EU: 25-26 September 2014 CLAIMS – Updating the Register of Claims: Council discussions
EU: 25-26 September 2014 HYGIENE – Food hygiene: Handling of animal offal – Council discussions
INT: 10 September 2014 WTO SPS COMMITTEE - Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures: Formal Meeting: Steps officially agreed for mediating food safety, animal-plant health friction
UK: 4 September 2014 ADMINISTRATION - Consumer confidence to be strengthened through new food crime unit: Government responds to Professor Chris Elliott's report into the food integrity and assurance of food supply networks
EU: 3 September 2014 ENZYMES - Food enzyme opinions published in full

UK: 5 August 2014 CONTAMINATION - Campylobacter survey results published
UK: 1 August 2014 LABELLING - SME food allergen labelling guidance published
UK: 1 August 2014 OFFICIAL CONTROL – FSA Consultation: The Official Feed and Food Controls (England) and The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014

EU: 30 July 2014 HYGIENE - Maintaining the cold chain during storage and transport of meat (minced meat)
UK: 29 July 2014 LABELLING - Country of origin of foods study published
UK: 29 July 2014 HYGIENE - Audits of 2 Sisters plants (poultry processors)
EU: 29 July 2014 SPECIAL DIETARY FOODS - Request for information on infant and follow-on formula
UK: 25 July 2014 HYGIENE - FSA investigation into poultry plants
EU: 25 July 2014 ENZYMES - Food enzymes: suitability checklist helps applicants submit correct data
EU: 24 July 2014 MEAT - Commission publishes encouraging second round of EU-wide test results for horse meat DNA in beef products: measures to fight food fraud are working
UK: 24 July 2014 FISH MARKETING - Consultation on the implementation of the Common Organisation of the Market (CMO) in fishery and aquaculture products: Summary of responses
EU: 24 July 2014 SPECIAL DIETARY FOODS - EFSA updates advice on infant and follow-on formulae
UK: 23 July 2014 MILK - FSA Board decision on raw milk
EU: 23 July 2014 ADDITIVES - Food additives - Calcium proprionate, Calcium ascorbate and Sodium alginate: Council discussions
UK/EU: 22 July 2014 MEAT - No horse meat found in latest industry and EU testing
UK: 21 July 2014 NUTRITION/PARNUTS - Changes to the nutrition legislation team / Information on food law topics
INT: 14-18 July 2014 CODEX - Summary Report of the 37th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC37)
INT: 17 July 2014 CODEX - UN strengthens regulations on lead in infant formula and arsenic in rice: Joint FAO-WHO Codex Alimentarius Committee sets new food safety standards
UK: 16 July 2014 LABELLING - Food Information Regulations 2013 Consultation: Summary of responses
EU: 15 July 2014 ADDITIVES - Sunset Yellow: EFSA sets ADI
EU: 14 July 2014 ADDITIVES – Food additives containing aluminium lakes / Removal of montan acid esters from the list of authorised food additives
EU: 14 July 2014 FOOD FRAUD - Food fraud and controls – Council discussions
EU: 14 July 2014 ORGANIC FOOD - New proposal on organic farming – Council discussions
EU: 1 July 2014 CONTAMINANTS - Acrylamide in food is a public health concern, says EFSA draft
EU: 1 July 2014 CONTAMINANTS - Commission to lift import restrictions on sunflower oil from Ukraine

UK: 30 June 2014 INCIDENTS - FSA Annual Report of Incidents published
EU: 20 June 2014 CONTAMINANTS - Latest Report on controls of fruit and vegetable imports shows system is protecting European consumers
EU: 19 June 2014 LABELLING / QUALITY MARKS -The European Commission publishes rules for “mountain product” label and clarifies other elements of EU quality labels
INT: 18 and 19 June 2014 WTO - TBT Committee Meeting: Healthy food and drink feature, but good practices deal eludes standards committee
EU: 16 and 17 June 2014 LABELLING - Indication of the origin of meat: Council discussions
EU: 13 June 2014 CONTAMINANTS - RASFF: 35 years protecting human and animal health
EU: 12 June 2014 GMOs - Statement by Commissioner Borg following Council's political agreement to allow the prohibition of GMO cultivation
EU: 12 June 2014 GMOs - Cultivation of genetically modified organisms: Council discussions
UK: 12 June 2014 LABELLING – Updated Draft Guidance from DEFRA on the Food Information Regulation
UK: 12 June 2014 ENFORCMENT - Updated Multi Annual National Control Plan for the UK published
EU: 2 June 2014 HEALTH CLAIMS- Update from the European Commission's Working Group meeting on health claims, 16 May 2014

EU: 31 May 2014 SPECIAL DIETARY FOODS - Amendments to EU Directive 2006/141/EC – protein requirements for infant and follow-on formula.
EU: 23 May 2014 LABELLING - EFSA Public consultation: the evaluation of allergenic foods and food ingredients for labelling purposes
EU: 20 May 2014 CONTAMINANTS - Pesticide residue adherence rates above 97% for third consecutive year
EU: 19 May 2014 LABELLING - Food loss and food waste – Discussion by council of rules regarding ‘best before’ dates
EU: 14 May 2014 ENZYMES - Food enzyme opinion begins new chapter in EFSA's work
UK: 13 May 2014 ADDITIVES / CONTACT MATERIALS - Guidance on glitters and dusts for decorating food
EU: 12 May 2014 CONTAMINANTS - Commission reviews maximum levels of cadmium in food
UK: 9 May 2014 HYGIENE - Spirit drinks industry guide published
EU: 8 May 2014 HONEY – Council agrees Directive amendment concerning pollen in honey
EU: 6 May 2014 HEALTH CLAIMS / ADDITIVES – Council considers amendments to Regulations
UK: 1 May 2014 MEAT HYGIENE - H R Jasper & Son Limited prosecuted

UK: 17 April 2014 MEAT - Local authorities to test for lamb meat substitution
EU: 16 April 2014 SUPPLEMENTS - Draft Commission Regulation updating Annex II of Directive 2002/46/EC
EU: 14 April 2014 MEAT - New European horse meat tests
EU: 14 April 2014 EFSA - Stop-the-clock guidelines to improve efficiency and consistency of regulated product assessments
EU: 14 April 2014 ADDITIVES - Council consideration: Caramel colours in malt beverages, and Advantame as sweetener
INT: 8 April 2014 WTO – Dispute Settlement: EU files dispute against Russia over measures on the importation of pork products
EU: 8 April 2014 MEAT EXPORTS - EU challenges Russia in the WTO over pork import ban
UK: 7 April 2014 ENFORCEMENT - Revised Food Law Code of Practice for England published

UK: 31 March 2014 FISH MARKETING - Seeking views on implementing marketing standards and labelling requirements for fish and aquaculture products
UK: 28 March 2014 MILK - Update and outcomes from the FVO audit on controls related to safety of milk and dairy products in the UK
INT: 25 and 26 March 2014 WTO-SPS COMMITTEE - Members to try new approach for defining private sanitary-phytosanitary standards
UK: 25 March 2014 MEAT HYGIENE - Changes to pig meat inspection in June 2014
EU: 25 March 2014 ORGANIC FOOD - Organics: Commission proposal for more and better
EU: 24 March 2014 ENFORCEMENT - Council consideration: Methods of sampling and analysis for the control of dioxins and PCBs
EU: 24 March 2014 HYGIENE - Council consideration: Wild game - Specific requirements for handling and post-mortem inspection
EU: 24 March 2014 HYGIENE - Council consideration: Food Hygiene - Derogations for transport of liquid oils and fats by sea
EU: 24 March 2014 LABELLING - Council consideration: Report on the indication of the origin of meat
EU: 24 March 2014 ORGANIC FOOD - Council consideration: New proposal on organic farming
UK: 14 March 2014 SCOTLAND - Bill to create new Scottish food safety body introduced today
INT: 13 March 2014 GMOs - Steady increase in incidents of low levels of GM crops in traded food and feed
EU: 13 March 2014 NOVEL FOODS - Parliament Discussions: Defining nano-food: a big problem at a very small scale
EU: 12 March 2014 NOVEL FOODS - Parliament Discussions: Nanofoods: MEPs object to new labelling rules
EU: 11 March 2014 CONTAMINANTS - Council discussions: Maximum levels of cadmium
EU: 5 March 2014 IMPORTED FOODS - EU updates list of imports of plant origin subject to reinforced border checks
EU: 4 March 2014 ADDITIVES - Council discussions: Food additive ethyl lauroyl arginate as a preservative
EU: 4 March 2014 ADDED SUBSTANCES - Draft Commission Regulation including Ephedra and Yohimbe in Annex III of Regulation (EC) NO 1925/2006
EU: 3 March 2014 GMOs - Council discussions: Cultivation of genetically modified organisms
EU: 3 March 2014 HEALTH CLAIMS - Update from the European Commission's Working Group meeting on health claims, 24 February 2014

UK: 28 February 2014 FOODS FOR SPECIFIC GROUPS - Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014
UK: 28 February 2014 CONTAMINANTS / ADDITIVES / ENZYMES – FSA Food Safety Policy Update (February 2014)
EU: 24 February 2014 CONTAMINANTS - Council discussions: Methods of sampling, performance criteria and screening methods
EU: 21 February 2014 LABELLING - Council discussions: Impact of a “traffic light” nutrition labelling system (UK)
EU: 21 February 2014 CONTAMINATION - Commission reviews measures on imports from Japan
UK: 21 February 2014 MEAT HYGIENE - Review of audit arrangements in FSA approved meat establishments within the UK
EU: 19 February 2014 FOODS FOR SPECIFIC GROUPS: Update from the European Commission's Working Group meeting on Foods for Specific Groups, 7 February 2014
EU: 17 February 2014 FLAVOURINGS - Union list of smoke flavouring primary products to be used in or on foods in England
EU: 14 February 2014 MEAT - Horsemeat: one year after -> actions announced and delivered!
EU: 14 February 2014 MEAT - Horsemeat: Commission sets out recommendation for launching second round of EU-wide DNA testing plan
INT: 11-12 February 2014 CODEX - Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs: Report of 1st Session
INT: 11 February 2014 CODEX - New quality criteria to be developed for booming spice and herb sector
EU: 11 February 2014 GMOs - Council discussions: Genetically modified maize (1507)
EU: 10 February 2014 GMOs - Commission calls on Council to agree on its proposal to grant Member States more subsidiarity on GMO cultivation
EU: 6 February 2014 LABELLING - Country of origin labelling rules for pigs and poultry need beefing up, say MEPs

UK: 31 January 2014 SURVEILLANCE - National Co-ordinated Food Sampling Programme 2014-15
UK: 30 January 2014 MILK - Impact Assessment on the review of the controls governing the sale and marketing of unpasteurised, or raw drinking milk and raw cream (RDM) in England
EU: 28 January 2014 CONTACT MATERIALS - Council discussions: Food contact material
EU: 28 January 2014 ADDITIVES - Council discussions: Food additives
EU: 28 January 2014 FLAVOURINGS / SUPPLEMENTS - Council discussions: Food flavourings and supplements
UK: 24 January 2014 ENFORCEMENT - Making it easier for businesses to appeal
UK: 23 January 2014 LABELLING - Meat Products (England) Regulations 2014: Defra Consultation documents
EU: 16 January 2014 GMOs - MEPs oppose authorising new genetically modified maize
EU: 15 January 2014 HONEY - Parliament clarifies labelling rules for honey if contaminated by GM pollen
EU: 14 January 2014 FRAUD - Food fraud: MEPs call for measures to fix weak links in the production chain