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The European Commission is preparing a proposal for a strengthened due diligence system to prevent deforestation in third countries. The proposal should be submitted in June 2021 and should oblige all economic operators to be able to demonstrate that there is no deforestation in their own supply chain. The criteria of the new strengthened system should be applied internationally. The new system should include setting parameters that should help determine whether a country, region or administrative area is a problem area for deforestation. If products or commodities from these problem areas were to enter EU markets, Member States would have to apply a higher level of controls to these products or commodities to ensure that deforestation or forest damage did not occur during production. According to the Commission, sanctions for European companies for non-compliance with the new enhanced due diligence system should be decided by the national administrative or criminal justice system.

On 15/03/2021, the European Commission adopted the first strategic plan for Horizon Europe, the new EU research and innovation programme worth €95.5 billion in current prices. The Strategic Plan identifies four strategic orientations for research and innovation investments under Horizon Europe for the next four years: Promoting an open strategic autonomy by leading the development of key digital, enabling, and emerging technologies, sectors, and value chains; Restoring Europe's ecosystems and biodiversity and managing sustainably natural resources; Creating a more resilient, inclusive and democratic European society.
More information is available here.

On 17/03/2020, the European Commission published an implementing decision fixing € 220 million in support for the School Milk and School Fruit Schemes for 2021/2022 according to national budgets across the EU. The largest share of the entire budget will go to support programs in France and Poland.
More information is available here.

According to a representative of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health (DG SANTE), the European Commission is considering a review of the rules allowing controls on the use of antimicrobials in imported animals and animal products. A possible modification of these rules would be a complementary measure to the forthcoming Regulation on Veterinary Medicinal Products, which will enter into force in early 2022 and which will focus on combating antibacterial resistance.

The food companies Nestlé, Unilever and Mondelēz International, together with seven other multinationals, sent a letter to representatives of the European Commission and the European Parliament on 17/03/2021 expressing support for ending cage laying hens in the EU and the readiness and willingness to cooperate in the revision of animal welfare legislation. In their letter, they emphasized that more than 1 000 farms in the EU had already abolished caged hens or committed to do so by 2025.
More information is available here and here.