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The European Commission plans to restrict the use of so-called emergency permits for neonicotinoids, plant protection products, the use of which is prohibited from 2018. Emergency permits are issued, for example, when crop yields are declining dramatically. The Commission's plan is a response to the findings of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) last year, in which EFSA states that in a number of cases where emergency use of neonicotinoids was authorized, another method of pest control could have been used and therefore no emergency permit was legitimate. Only RO, HU, LT and BG have requested the emergency license. Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis asked the Member States in July 2018 to comply with the obligation to refuse to grant emergency permits for the use of neonicotinoids, and BG and HU responded positively. The Commission plans to take further steps against RO and LT.
More information is available here.

Last week, the European Commission confirmed that there is no longer an African swine fever disease in the Czech Republic. The first case of this infection was detected in the Czech territory in June 2017, since April 2018 there was no other case of occurrence of the disease. European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis said that the Czech Republic is a good example of how the EU's applied strategy for containment and possible disease eradication works. This is a clear signal to third countries that there is no need to worry about the disease spread and to introduce restrictions on the pig meat market.
More information is available here.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) published a report on 26/02/2019 highlighting the decrease in efficacy of antibiotics used to treat diseases caused by animal-borne bacteria such as campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis. According to EFSA, ASF has decreased in animals in Member States that have introduced stricter ASF measures, which should inspire other countries to take them too. However, ASF has generally grown in recent years, according to EFSA.
More information is available here and here.

On 20/02/2019, Italian MEP Herbert Dorfmann (EPP), on behalf of the entire EPP-ED Group, the largest political faction of the EP, proposed a resolution on large carnivores, in particular the question of the protection of herds against wolves. Dorfmann asks the European Commission to reconsider the ban on killing wolves whose populations are growing rapidly. Environment Commissioner, Karmenu Vella however stated that, according to the Commission, the regulation of the wolf population is unnecessary and their protection should therefore continue.

The United Kingdom has suspended the planned introduction of the customs regime, which should cover about 5,200 products, including food, in the event of leaving the EU without a deal. The reason for the postponement is the dispute between the UK Environment Minister Michael Gove, who is demanding higher tariffs to protect the UK farmers, and Chancellor Philip Hammond and Foreign Minister Liam Fox who, on the contrary, demand lower tariffs to protect consumers from rising prices. The UK government also seeks to agree that for some time, EU standards on consumer health and safety will remain in force, at least until the UK is able to negotiate new trade agreements.
More information is available here.