News

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) on 03/08/2020. The aim of the public consultation is to revise the Directive in the context of the new objectives set out in the Europe Green Deal (climate neutrality until 2050). The revision should assess how far EU renewable energy rules can contribute to a higher EU climate ambition. The European Commission has published an initial impact assessment, feedback on the impact assessment can be sent until 21/09/2020. This consultation should then be followed by further consultation causally related to RED.
More information is available here.

Estonian MEP Jaak Madison (I&D) is asking the Estonian supervisory authorities to examine whether the introduction of a tax on non-recycled plastics would be contrary to Estonian law. Madison also fears that the introduction of this tax could be a first step towards introducing other similar taxes. In addition to the possible tax on non-recycled plastics, the European Commission is addressing the guidelines for the Disposable Plastics Directive. The Directive should enter into force in 2021, so guidelines should be adopted in July 2020 to help Member States determine which plastics will be covered by the new directive. However, due to the coronavirus crisis, the submission of guidelines was postponed. The new deadline for submission is not yet known, but environmental organizations are already criticizing the draft versions of the guidelines. According to initial information, the Directive should not apply to viscose or cellophane, even if, for example, disposable beverage straws were made from these materials. The Commission should also make it possible to distinguish between single-portion and multi-portion packages, depending on the draft guidelines. Multi-portion packaging could then also be excluded from the Directive. The Directive would therefore not have to apply, for example, to the packaging of potato chips if the packaging contains two or more portions. Representatives of environmental organizations fear that similar exemptions could lead to a significant weakening and practical malfunction of the Directive.
More information is available here and here.

Italy has long opposed the introduction of a uniform nutrition labelling system for foods through the NutriScore colour scheme, due to the fact that the NutriScore system could negatively evaluate a number of traditional Italian products with, for example, a naturally higher fat content. Italy, together with the Czech Republic and Greece, should therefore oppose the introduction of a mandatory food nutrition labelling system on the front of food packaging during the autumn meeting of the Agriculture Council. Italy has also designed its own nutrition labelling system called the NutrInform Battery (here), which Romania, along with Italy, could support.

Food companies Danone and Nestlé continue to strengthen in the field of plant-based alternatives to dairy and meat products. In the first half of 2020, Danone in the USA recorded an increase in its portfolio and brands focused on plant-based products by more than 3%, and Nestlé reported a 40% increase in sales of vegetarian and plant-based foods, also in the first half of 2020.
More information is available here and here.

The EU-Vietnam trade agreement entered into force on 01/08/2020. The agreement will gradually abolish customs duties on 99% of all goods traded by both parties. The European Commission states that many important EU export products, such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals or machinery will already enjoy duty free import conditions as of entry into force. Agri-food products like beef or olive oil will face no tariffs in three years, while dairy, fruit and vegetables in maximum five years.
More information is available here.