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Scientists from the University of Göttingen in Germany conducted an online study to monitor the views of German consumers on possible ways to tackle obesity. The measures examined also included a proposal to ban advertising of high-sugar foods intended for children, or to introduce a tax on sweetened beverages. The study was attended by 1000 respondents, of which 60% agreed with the proposed measures. Promoting a healthy lifestyle is one of the priorities of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. However, due to concerns about public reaction, the ministry has not yet planned to introduce a tax on unhealthy food.
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On 16/03/2020, Germany confirmed an outbreak of H5N8 bird flu in Saxony in eastern Germany, at a poultry farm in Bad Lausick near Leipzig. All poultry were slaughtered, quarantine was established in the area. The incidence of avian influenza in Germany was first reported this year in January 2020, it was an infection in a wild individual. Since the end of 2019, cases of avian influenza have been confirmed in Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
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The March Agriculture and Fisheries Council (scheduled for 23/03/2020) was cancelled due to the spread of COVID-19 in the EU; Ministers of Agriculture should meet during the April Council of Ministers on 27/04/2020. Given that the last Council of Ministers was held in January 2020 (the February Council was also cancelled) and given the need now to address the issue of coronavirus spread in the EU, there is a further delay in reaching agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the Common Agricultural Policy. According to some information, an agreement on the MFF and the CAP could only be reached under the German Presidency in the second half of 2020. Italy's Minister of Agriculture Teresa Bellanova also highlighted the risk of disrupting the EU's single market - According to the Italian Minister, on 11/03/2020, food supplies were blocked at the borders of Italy and Croatia, and the situation at the border with Austria is also complicated. Bellanova therefore called on the European Commission to ensure that Member States comply with EU single market rules. The European Council (Prime Ministers and Presidents) has not yet been cancelled, it should take place on 26-27/03/2020, with the topic of the COVID-19 spread on the agenda.
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On 13/03/2020, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) gave its opinion concerning the Commission’s proposal for a regulation on transitional provisions relating to the common agricultural policy in the year 2021. According to the European Court of Auditors, the new CAP will be delayed by at least one year, but rapid agreement between the institutions seems to be relatively unlikely so far, the ECA states in this context that it could be difficult to implement the new legal framework and CAP strategic plans from 2022. According to the ECA, ambitions should not be weakened during the transitional period, and environmental and climate ambitions should be maintained, ideally strengthened. According to the ECA, "there is a need to urgently begin to improve the CAP". The ECA supported the extension of some rural development programs until 31/12/2021.
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A group of 3600 environmental scientists published an opinion last week on the Common Agricultural Policy and called on the European Commission to make major changes to the CAP structure. It considers the most 'urgent' abandonment of all coupled payments, which currently disrupt the functioning of the single market, but also lead to high greenhouse gas production. In addition, area‐based payments should be replaced by a system of support based on the provision of public goods - in this context, scientists propose abandoning all payments that have an adverse impact on the environment and the climate; strengthening the budget for the second pillar; setting up the co-financing system for the 1st pillar and at the same time reducing the co-financing of the second pillar. The scientists also called on the Commission to introduce measures to reduce greenhouse gas production - under this point they included restrictions on aid paid to support livestock production, strengthening aid for the restoration of forests, wetlands or the management of waterlogged soils. Scientists also call for a halt to the trend of biodiversity decline, so at least 10% of the total agricultural land area should be earmarked for landscape features, buffer zones, or fallow land. Extensive grassland should also be encouraged. The study also stressed that EU international trade is leading to negative impacts in third countries, which needs to be reversed and trade agreements revised.
More information is available here.