Dec. 22, 2021
E.U. Moves to Block Deforestation-Derived Imports, Including Some Palm Oil
A new European Commission proposal aims to significantly slash imports of commodities associated with deforestation, especially in Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Dec. 20, 2021
European Commission Announces Public Consultation on Food Labeling
Interested parties will have until March 7, 2022, to participate. About one-third of the comments already published have come from the four main olive oil-producing countries.
Dec. 16, 2021
European Commission Predicts an Upward Trend in Production After This Year's Setback
Production and exports are expected to surge in Spain and Portugal. Italy will see modest production gains and fewer imports. Production in Greece is projected to fall.
Dec. 6, 2021 News Briefs
European Parliament Approves CAP Reform Amid Strong Opposition
Nov. 20, 2021 Business
WTO Rules in Favor of Spanish Producers in Table Olive Dispute
Nov. 8, 2021 News Briefs
Oct. 20, 2021 Production
European Olive Oil Exports Expected to Recover as Costs Rise
Sep. 30, 2021 News Briefs
Aug. 24, 2021
Glyphosate Controversy Continues as New Report Concludes Herbicide Is Not Carcinogenic
Health campaigners are outraged with the EFSA’s conclusion, accusing the food safety authority of bending to pressure from industry.
Aug. 23, 2021
Europe Sets New Limits on Cadmium in Fruits and Vegetables
The limits on the carcinogenic heavy metal will come into force at the end of August.
Aug. 6, 2021
Positive Signs for Olive Oil Sector in E.U. Report
The European Commission expects olive oil exports to hit a record high in 2021. Growing demand, decreasing imports and a steady supply suggest prices will rise too.
Jul. 30, 2021
Europe Introduces Plan to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Half by 2030
The plan will expand emissions trading to new sectors and increase the use of renewable energy, among other policies.
Jun. 29, 2021
E.U. Set to Approve Future Common Agricultural Policy
The new CAP will provide increased flexibility to member states, increase funding for small farmers and apply more stringent environmental requirements to aid payments.
Jun. 10, 2021
European Commission Considers Use of Gene-Editing in Agriculture
The commission will discuss with member states and other stakeholders how gene-editing technology could influence the future of sustainable agriculture.
Apr. 20, 2021
Second European Parliament Committee Votes to Exclude Olive Oil From Nutri-Score
Spanish MEP Jordi Cañas pushed for the amendment calling on the European Commission to consider exempting single-ingredient food items from any pan-European labeling system.
Apr. 5, 2021
Europe Limits Use of Trans Fats in Foods
The move is widely seen as a positive step toward eliminating all trans fats by 2023.
Mar. 26, 2021
Europe Plans to Triple Agricultural Land Dedicated to Organic Farming by 2030
Olive farmers will be among the benefactors of European programs targeted at stimulating the consumption of organic products and financing the transition to organic farms.
Feb. 16, 2021
Spain Urges Talks on U.S. Tariffs
The move comes as the U.S. Trade Representative announced that it would not revise any of the tariffs currently in place on European imports.
Feb. 1, 2021
Europe Seeks Public Input in Effort to Framework for Geographical Indications
The goal is to identify new tools to strengthen the certified food specialties indications system and fight food fraud.
Aug. 31, 2020
E.U. Trade Commissioner Steps Down After Breaking Covid Rules
In an uncommon occasion in European politics, Phil Hogan has left his post as agriculture commissioner over the Golfgate scandal.
Aug. 25, 2020
Europe Removes Tariffs on U.S. Lobsters in Bid to De-Escalate Trade Tensions
In return for removing $111 million tariffs on lobster imports, the United States will eliminate $160 million in tariffs on a range of goods. Observers see this as the first step in de-escalating trade tensions that led to the imposition of a 25 percent tariff on some Spanish olive oils.
Aug. 21, 2020
Increased Precision in Europe's New Xylella Fastidiosa Legislation
Along with shrinking the infection and buffer zones, the European Commission also admitted that the deadly plant pathogen could no longer be removed in some regions and called on E.U. member states to intensify their surveillance of the disease.
Aug. 4, 2020
Europe Demands U.S. Drop Tariffs After Member States Comply With Airbus Ruling
The European Commission wants the United States to scrap tariffs on a range of manufactured and agricultural goods now that E.U. states found to be providing illegal subsidies to Airbus have complied with WTO demands.