News

The main discussion topic of the Informal meeting of ministers for agriculture and fisheries (03 - 05 September) will be 'Empowering our farmers with effective tools to manage risks post-2020'. The EU farming sector is facing increasing market and production risks, which is a result of increased price volatility on global markets and climate change. Read more.

The IMF has issued its latest six-monthly World Economic Outlook, which again marked a continued shift towards protectionism in advanced economies. As this and other recent reports EuroCommerce warns that there is a continued move away from open trading policies. In its view, the accelerating trend of countries looking to short-term measures to protect a particular sector ignores the long-term damage, not only to the wider economy, but also the long-term cost to themselves in lost competitiveness and economic health. The EuroCommerce report is available here.

The Commission has published today (Monday 24 July) its monthly agri-food trade report featuring a highlight on the agreement the EU and Japan reached in principle on an Economic Partnership Agreement. The agreement will be the most successful ever achieved for agriculture, providing EU exporters with great opportunities. Already ranking as 4th biggest exporter to Japan, the EU is likely to become the most significant agri-trade partner for Japan with products such as pork meat, wine, cheese and spirits. The report is available here.

All packets of pasta and rice sold in Italy will have to include labels of origin showing where the produce was grown, the government ruled on Thursday (20 July), in a move it said was aimed at protecting local farmers. Read more.

The Commission launched today (20 July) a market observatory for crops to ensure more transparency and increase availability of market data for European farmers and traders. A range of market information and short-term analysis will be made available on a new dedicated website. The observatory consists of 14 organisations representing various stages of the grain supply chain. A board of 23 market experts will meet twice a year, chaired by the Commission.