News

On 04/03/2020, the European Commission should publish the new European Climate Law, together with the EU Industrial Policy Strategy. According to previous observations of the European Commission, Climate Law should set a binding target for achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and set other climate targets to be achieved by 2030 and 2050. In the context of the European Climate Law, the Commission should also implement a review of all climate-related legislations or legislations regulating sectors that have an impact on the climate (including the Renewable Energy Directive). The revision should be completed by June 2021. The Industrial Strategy should set the way for the transformation of European industry towards greening and digitization. The strategy will require the full involvement of European industry, focusing on robotics, digitization and nanotechnology. The industry strategy should propose measures to take advantage of industry opportunities for recycling or resource efficiency.

The Eurogroup is an informal EU body in which euro area ministers discuss matters related to the euro's shared responsibilities (more information on the Eurogroup is available here). Last week, Eurogroup President Mario Centeno said the European Union should direct public investment in environmental projects to help combat climate change and strengthen environmental protection. According to Centeno, there must be consistency between strategic policy priorities and economic policies.
Interview with Mario Centeno is available here.

The Spanish government approved measures last week as part of the reform of the food chain law. Measures, including the implementation of the Unfair Trading Practices Directive, must now be approved by the House. The reform also includes a measure ordering buyer in the supply chain to pay the seller a price that is higher than or equal to the actual cost of production of the traded goods. A retail chain that sells a product below cost must offset the loss at its own expense. However, if he also bought the product below the price, he is obliged to pay a fine of up to EUR 100,000. If the situation recurs, the penalty may amount to up to EUR 1 million. However, the measure offers an exception for perishable products. Promotions offering, for example, a bottle of oil to purchase two bottles of free detergent will be prohibited. The package also includes a clause stating the obligation to include in the contract between farmers and the first buyers of agricultural production a statement that the agreed price covers production costs.
More information is available here.

The European Food Safety Committee (EFSA) has launched a public consultation on the content of polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances in food. In its opinion, EFSA proposes a limit on the ‘tolerable weekly intake’ of the main four PFAS substances accumulating in the body. It should be an amount that can be consumed without compromising the health of the individual. Foods with the highest PFAS content are drinking water, fish, fruit and eggs; PFAS are present, for example, in packaging materials. The public consultation is open until 20/04/2020.
The public consultation is available here

Loma Linda University of Health researchers presented the results of an observational study in the International Epidemiology Journal, which states that factors associated with milk consumption may increase the risk of breast cancer in women by up to 80%. For 8 years, 53,000 healthy women participated in the study, of which 1,057 had breast cancer. Scientists consider the hormone content of cow's milk as a possible explanation, which may increase the risk of breast cancer. Other dairy products, according to the study, should not affect health (cancer).
More information is available here.