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A Spanish expert on African Swine Fever warns against importing pork from China

José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno, a leading expert on African Swine Fever (ASF) from the Complutense University in Madrid, warns of the risks of importing pork from China. ASF in China has affected almost 40% of the pig population, with some infected pieces entering slaughterhouses, according to Sánchez-Vizcaíno. There have been seizures in the European Union of meat containing ASF and imported from China; In connection with the spread of the ASF, imports of selected pork products from China to the EU fell by more than 45% in the first months of 2020 compared to last year's figures. Sánchez-Vizcaíno believes that in the next 5 years, the ASF will be eradicated thanks to the development of a vaccine that could be available on the market in 1.5-2 years.
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Parliament’s Agriculture Committee has approved the rules for the transitional period of the Common Agricultural Policy

On 28/04/2020, the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development approved rules for the CAP transitional period, MEPs supported the maintenance of the current CAP rules for another 2 years (until 2022, if no agreement is reached on the Multiannual Financial Framework and the CAP by 30/10/2020), funding should be provided from the new budget. The Committee supported the provision of an adequate CAP budget (rejected the reduction of the CAP budget), supported the strengthening of Member States' flexibility in co-financing and the use of agri-environment measures, and emphasized the need to strengthen market measures to address coronavirus market distortions. The proposal by French MEP Manuel Bompard (GUE/NGL) to cap direct payments was rejected by a vote of 15 in favour, 30 against, 3 abstentions. The proposal to extend the transitional state aid for the duration of the transitional period was also not approved. MEPs supported the continuation of internal convergence of direct payments by 33 votes to 12, with 3 abstentions; the continuation of external convergence, however, was rejected by a vote of 20 in favour, 26 against, 2 abstentions. The opinion should be approved by the plenary of the European Parliament in mid-May 2020 and should then be discussed in a trialogue between Parliament, the Commission and the Council.
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The EU Biodiversity Strategy: 25% of agricultural land to be organically farmed, 30% of the total terrestrial surface under environmental protection, reduction of pesticides by 50%

The European Commission is preparing an EU Biodiversity Strategy, the presentation of the strategy is currently planned for 20/05/2020. The strategy will also have a major impact on EU agricultural policy. According to current informal information (the strategy is still under discussion, specific values may still change), the European Commission is considering the following targets: by 2030, at least 25% of the total area of agricultural land should be farmed organically; at least 30% of the total land and sea area should be covered by some environmental protection (currently 26% and 11%); at least 10% of the total area of agricultural land should be in the non-production regime (non-production elements, landscape elements, etc.); a 50% reduction in the volume of chemical pesticides used and the risks associated with them, as well as a reduction in high-risk pesticides, should reach 50%; the reduction in the volume of nitrogen used (in connection with the use of fertilizers) should decrease by at least 20%. By 2022, the Commission should present an Action Plan for Integrated Nutrient Management. The strategy should be presented together with the Farm to Fork Strategy, but due to the planned discussion of the Multiannual Financial Framework on 13/05/2020, there could be a further slight delay in the submission of strategies (20/05/2020 is still valid for the time being).

Parliament’s Agriculture Committee supported the strengthening of market intervention measures to support the market during the pandemic crisis, called for a strong budget and the introduction of market measures for the poultry, pigmeat and wine sectors

The European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development met on 30/04/2020 to discuss market intervention measures presented by the Commission on 22/04/2020. Janusz Wojciechowski, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, also took part in the discussion. During the discussion, members of the committee agreed that the proposed measures would not be enough, they supported their extension to other sectors, including veal, poultry, pork and wine. MEPs also rejected a reduction in the CAP budget, calling for a strong budget and financial support to help the sector during the pandemic crisis from sources outside the CAP. Wojciechowski stated that the Commission has a limited budget, so the most affected sectors must be selected, which, according to him, do not yet include the poultrymeat sector. At the urging of some MEPs to further postpone the Farm to Fork Strategy, the Commissioner said that the strategy had been postponed to 20/05/2020 and should not be postponed further.
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According to the Commissioner for Agriculture, the European Commission should have the right to activate the crisis reserve without the permission of the Member States of the EU

Janusz Wojciechowski, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, said last week that the European Commission should have the right to activate the agricultural crisis reserve without having to consult the Member States of the European Union. Its activation during the meeting of the Parliament’s Agriculture Committee on 30/04/2020 was supported, for example, by Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella (S&D), Mara Bizzotto (I&D, IT) and Eric Andrieu (S&D, FR). During the Committee meeting, the Commissioner stated that he was personally in favour of activating the reserve, but that under the current rules, its use must be agreed by the Council, i.e. the EU Member States.
More information is available here.