Press releases
EU organic logo fully up and running from 1 July 2012
28/06/2012
The two-year transition period for the organic food sector to comply with new EU labelling rules is reaching its end. As from 1 July 2012, the EU organic logo will be obligatory on all pre-packaged organic food products produced in EU Member States which meet the necessary standards. The logo will stay optional for non-packed and imported organic products. Other private, regional or national logos will continue to be allowed to appear alongside the EU label.
€ 35.9 million EU support for the promotion of agricultural products in the European Union and in third countries
28/06/2012
The European Commission has approved 20 programmes to promote agricultural products in the European Union and in third countries. The total budget of the programmes, which will run for a period of three years, is € 70.7 million of which the EU will contribute € 35.9 million.
Commission to recover € 426 million of CAP expenditure from the Member States
22/06/2012
A total of €436 million of EU agricultural policy funds unduly spent by Member States is being claimed back by the European Commission today under the so-called clearance of accounts procedure. As some of these amounts have already been recovered from the Member States, the financial impact is somewhat lower at €426 million. This money returns to the EU budget because of non-compliance with EU rules or inadequate control procedures on agricultural expenditure.
State aid: Commission opens in-depth investigation on Agrarmarkt Austria (AMA) marketing measures
12/06/2012
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to examine whether the marketing measures put into effect by Agrarmarkt Austria (AMA) between 1995 and 2008 are in line with EU state aid rules. The opening of an in-depth investigation gives interested parties the possibility to comment on the measure concerned. It does not however prejudge the outcome of the investigation.
EU and China roadmap towards a mutual recognition of organic products
12/06/2012
Commissioner Dacian Cioloş and the Chinese Minister for Administration of Quality, Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), Zhi Shuping, agreed today in Beijing to open negotiations on a mutual recognition agreement in the field of organic food products.
Public consultation launched on future of EU fruit and vegetable rules
04/06/2012
The European Commission has today launched a public consultation on the future of the EU regime for fruit and vegetables. The responses will feed into a Commission report on the regime next May which will look at the 2007 reform, with proposals for further changes if necessary, which would apply from 2014.
