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The Austrian Parliament will vote on the proposal to introduce a total ban on the use of glyphosate on 02/07/2019. A total ban on the use of the substance is supported by the Social Democrats and the far-right Freedom Party, therefore the proposal is likely to be approved. According to representatives of the Freedom Party, negotiations are still ongoing on rules for a transitional period, which should facilitate the shift to alternative environmentally and consumer friendly products. Austria could thus become the first EU state to completely ban the use of glyphosate.

More information is available here and here.

The European Commission is asking Member States to comment on the analysis of measures regulating endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors are currently regulated in various laws and regulations, and according to the Commission, comments will be taken into account in further work on the regulation of endocrine disruptors. The Commission will summarize the received comments in a summary report. All regulations on endocrine disruptors and the laws that are affected by these regulations should be analysed. The Commission will also focus on harmonization of the legislation at EU level.

It is possible to submit feedback until 10/07/2019 here.

Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Phil Hogan has pledged to provide Ireland with EUR 50 million in extra funding from EU resources, complemented by an additional EUR 50 million from national IE resources to compensate for the losses caused by the UK leaving the EU. Member States should vote on the approval of the financial support on 20/06/2019, one of the conditions for the payment of the support should be the reduction of the Irish dairy herd and the restructuring of the beef and veal sector. However, Irish farmers' representatives (IFA) rejected the condition to reduce the number of bovine animals, arguing that a number of producers have already been affected by the fall in prices due to the uncertainty related to Brexit. Representatives of agricultural organizations in Denmark and the Netherlands have spoken out against extraordinary support for Ireland only, stating that by Brexit, not only the Irish beef market, but also markets in other Member States will be negatively affected. Therefore, DK and NL representatives have asked the European Commission to clarify whether other EU Member States may apply for support in their efforts to maintain competition rules.

More information is available here.

Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Trade, said last week that the trade agreement with Mercosur was an EU trade priority. She pointed out, however, that agricultural issues and quotas would only be discussed at the very end of the negotiations. According to the EC President, Jean-Claude Juncker, the negotiations are difficult, he said the EU would have to make concessions on beef, sugar and ethanol. However, France continues to disagree with other EU concessions on agriculture and calls for a safeguard clause to protect European farmers.

More information is available here.

As part of its Presidency ending on 30/06/2019, Romania sought to reach a partial general agreement on the CAP post 2020. After the informal Council of Ministers in Romania that took place on 02-04/06/2019, due to unwillingness of many EU Member States (NL, DE, DK, LT, BE, ES, SE, LU, FR, IE, MT) Romania has abandoned its plans, Romania's agricultural output will only be the Council's progress report. In the partial general agreement, Romania sought to reduce the frequency of annual checks on the implementation of the National Strategic Plans to inspections every two years, as well as changes in eco-schemes which, according to Romania, could be voluntary not only for farmers but also for Member States. If eco-schemes were to be mandatory for Member States, Romania wanted to ensure maximum flexibility for Member States. The progress report will be presented on 18/06/2019 at the last Council of Ministers under the Romanian Presidency.

Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Phil Hogan said that the European Commission is preparing to set up rules for a transitional period in the context of delays in CAP negotiations. However, it is still possible that if neither the EU Council nor the European Parliament concludes its position on the CAP before the change in Commissioners in the European Commission, the new Commissioner may decide to withdraw the CAP legislative proposals presented by Commissioner Hogan and start to work on a new proposal.