News

On 04/11/2020, the Commission introduced controls on the import of bioethanol into the European Union to protect the European market against increased quantities of low-priced goods imported during the coronavirus period. A further increase in bioethanol imports into the EU would cause economic damage to local producers, the Commission monitors the development of product imports and provides the sectors concerned with a better overview of the situation. The Commission remains ready to examine duly substantiated import control requests in other sectors of the economy.
More information is available here.

The European Commission has supported a € 3.6 million beef promotion campaign in Belgium, France, Germany, Portugal, and Spain, with strong criticism from environmental organizations. The campaign is said to run counter to the objectives of the European Green Deal and to promote unsustainable diets. The Commission is currently reviewing the promotion program to strengthen the sustainability of EU production and consumption in the context of promotion programs.
More information is available here and here.

German Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner said last week that the EU's animal transport rules must be adjusted so that they no longer allow the transport of live animals through third countries that are unable to guarantee and that do not comply with European animal welfare rules. According to Klöckner, the EU should reduce the volume of transported live animals, on the contrary, it should strengthen the transport of meat and meat products.

The German Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) confirmed another 3 cases of African swine fever (ASF) in the district of Oder-Spree and 6 cases in the district of Märkisch-Oderland. The first case was also confirmed in Saxony. The number of cases thus rose to 134 on 06/11/2020. The German Federal Cabinet approved the proposed legislative changes by the Minister of Agriculture Julie Klöckner, which amends the country's legislation on hunting, nature protection and weapons. The changes also include the authorization of certain types of weapons designed to fire at night, which is intended to help combat the spread of ASF more effectively. Planned measures include better training of hunters. Germany is also trying to agree with Poland on the construction of a fence on the Polish side. Julia Klöckner also discusses with colleagues from the PL and the Czech Republic about possible compensations in the event of the spread of the disease to commercial farms.
More information is available here and here.

Bird flu has spread from the affected Netherlands to Germany and the United Kingdom. 13,000 poultry were slaughtered on British farms to prevent further spread of the disease. So far, 57 cases of avian influenza in poultry have been confirmed in Germany. In both countries, measures have been introduced in the form of control of poultry houses within a radius of three kilometres of outbreaks and a ban on the transport of poultry within a radius of ten kilometres. Neighbouring countries, including Poland and France, are taking measures to prevent the further spread of the disease across Europe. Avian influenza can negatively affect the export of poultry products to third countries.
More information is available here, here and here.