News

On 22/02/2019, the European Commission adopted the revised rules on state aid in the agriculture sector, the so-called de minimis aid. In a press release, the European Commission states that the maximum amount of aid that can be allocated to one farm over three years will be increased from EUR 15 000 to EUR 20 000. To avoid potential distortions of economic competition, a maximum national amount for each EU country cannot be exceeded. The national threshold is set at 1.25 % of the country's annual agricultural output over the same three-year period (up from 1% in the current rules). If the country does not spend more than 50% of its overall allocation on one specific agricultural sector, even de minimis aid per farm may increase up to EUR 25 000 and the national maximum to 1.5 % of the annual production. More information is available here.

The Permanent Representatives Committee of the Member States, Coreper I., approved on 15/02/2109 the final version of the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the transparency and sustainability of the EU risk assessment system, which was approved by the EP Environment Committee (ENVI) on 20/02/2019. The Regulation will, among other things, enable the public to access information provided by companies in the approval process. The regulation must be formally approved at the EP plenary session before the EP elections in May.

In the press release of 21/02/2019, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic confirmed the introduction of extraordinary veterinary measures as a reaction to the finding of Salmonella in beef meat imported from Poland. Until further notice, it will only be possible to bring all consignments of beef originating in Poland to the Czech market after their examination for the presence of salmonella. According to Czech Minister of Agriculture Miroslav Toman, checks on safety of beef meat from Poland are necessary at the moment, and the Czech Republic does not violate any rules preventing trade on the EU market, only seeks to protect the health of consumers. The European Commission, however, thinks otherwise. Poland claims, in response to the introduction of extraordinary Czech measures, it could reciprocally introduce controls on Czech beer imports.
.In connection with problematic imports of beef meat into the Czech Republic, Slovakia also introduced extraordinary veterinary measures on 22/02/2019

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has expressed dissatisfaction with the development of the prevention of salmonella in food in Europe and presented a proposal for measures to be taken to reduce this bacterium in food. EFSA proposes to reassess the maximum allowable proportion of infected laying hens by certain salmonella types from the current 2 % to 1 %. EFSA experts believe that by reducing the target to 1 %, the salmonella occurrence within human population could be reduced by 50 %. More information is available here.

MEPs voted on 14/02/2019 on the rules for strengthening and uniform enforcement of EU legislation on the protection of animals during transport, the draft report was adopted with a vote of 411 in favour, 43 against and 110 abstentions. The EP calls for the introduction of unannounced random checks, stricter penalties in the event of violation, and the transport of fresh meat rather than live animals. According to the rapporteur Jørn Dohrmann (ECR, DK), animal transport rules must be respected by farmers, animal dealers, veterinarians and transport companies. The EP's opinion also applies to third countries which, according to the EP, should set equally high level of protection for transported animals as EU countries do. Otherwise, the export of live animals to these countries should be prohibited. The EP also calls for a new animal welfare strategy for 2020-2024 with a clear definition of transport rules. The report also contains a recommendation to establish a committee of inquiry into the welfare of animals transported within and outside the EU at the beginning of the next parliamentary term, which would address the mismanagement of transported animals and the lack of enforcement of existing legislation.