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According to a report by the German Environmental Alliance "Together Against Livestock Production", Germany supports the livestock sector through direct and indirect support of up to €13.2 billion per year. The authors have tried to calculate all the funds that go directly or indirectly in Germany to support the breeding of animals to produce meat, milk, and eggs, to support the processing and distribution of animal products, and to support the production of feed. Sources of support included direct payments, tax relief, counselling services, and state social benefits. In the chapter on Fiscal Policy and Economic Development Policy, the study states that the livestock sector benefits from reduced value added tax on products of animal origin, from tax breaks for agricultural diesel, or from the exemption of agricultural vehicles from vehicle tax. Within this chapter alone, costs amount to a total of €5.86 billion. In the area of banking, companies in the agricultural and food sectors also benefit from favourable interest rates as well as loan subsidies. Under this chapter, expenditure on the livestock sector amounts to €28.73 million. The authors therefore call for a reduction in livestock production by up to 80% by 2030. The Thünen Institute for Market Analysis called the environmental alliance study successful and relevant; according to the institute, the study provides real numbers and the correct methodology for calculating total costs. According to the Thünen Institute, the reduction of livestock production to the extent proposed by the authors of the study is problematic; in this regard, the institute questions the conclusions of the study, especially given the insufficient reflection on the need to graze grasslands, which is not easy to transform into arable land.
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According to the EFSA report of 26/02/2021, a total of 1,022 outbreaks of avian influenza were detected in 25 countries in Europe, the European Economic Area, and the United Kingdom between 08/12/2020-28/02/2021. A total of 592 cases of the disease were recorded in domestic poultry, mainly ducks, most of which were in France. Other cases have been reported in wild or captive birds. Russia has recorded the first human-to-human transmission of the H5N8 avian influenza strain to poultry workers. However, EFSA considers the risk of transmitting the disease to humans to be very low; there is yet no evidence of mutations that are hazardous to humans.
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On 05/03/2021, the European Commission agreed with the United States to suspend all duties imposed in connection with the Airbus and Boeing disputes, tariffs will be suspended for four months. During this period, both parties will seek a longer-term solution to the dispute. The United States has imposed tariffs on imports from the EU of up to $7.5 billion, while the EU has imposed tariffs on imports from the USA of €4 billion.
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The EU-Mercosur trade agreement is unlikely to be ratified under the Portuguese Presidency. According to Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva, it is realistic to clarify sustainable development in Brazil, but French Trade Minister Franck Riester does not want to rush the agreement. A key condition for France's ratification of the agreement is to guarantee the introduction of legislation that will objectively and measurably control deforestation in Brazil.

The European Parliament has published amendments to the draft opinion of the EP Committees on Agriculture (COMAGRI) and the Environment (COMENVI) on Farm to Fork strategy. A total of 2297 amendments were tabled, which is why it was decided last week to postpone the vote from April to 03/06/2021. Several MEPs' amendments aim to carry out an assessment of the impact of the Farm to Fork strategy on the agricultural sector, but there is also strong support from COMENVI members for reducing meat consumption and taxing certain foods. Polish MEP Sylwia Spurek (S&D) together with Anja Hazekamp (GUE / NGL, NL) called for a reduction in meat consumption, the total volume of protein intake should be reduced by 10 to 15%, and the proportion should be 40% animal and 60% vegetable proteins. MEPs emphasized the need to introduce a real food price to ensure that food prices reflect the real costs of addressing negative externalities, through respect for the "polluter pays" principle. The VAT system should also be better set up for this purpose.