EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
EU News: The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) has published the results of his latest general survey of compliance with the Data Protection Regulation. In his latest stock-taking exercise, the EDPS has analysed the performance of all 58 EU institutions and bodies in certain key areas.
EU News: The European Commission has recently asked the United Kingdom to adopt national legislation to implement the new safety rules & standards for passenger ships to comply with European Union law.
EU News: A proposed EU concession to help put an end to the 20-year hormone beef trade war with the USA & Canada has been unanimously endorsed by the International Trade Committee.
EU News: The European Commission over the last years has taken a range of actions to enhance growth through the use of structural funds, to counter the crisis & ensure a quicker delivery of available funding.
EU News: As the world's biggest consumer of chocolate, the EU must take responsibility for the sustainability of the cocoa sector, Parliament's International Trade Committee has said.
EU News: Improvements in water quality in the EU could be at risk from new forms of chemical pollution. The Commission is proposing to add 15 chemicals to the list of 33 pollutants that are monitored & controlled in EU surface waters. The 15 substances include industrial chemicals as well as substances used in biocides, pharmaceuticals and plant protection products. They have been selected on the basis of scientific evidence that they may pose a significant risk to health.
The update will be achieved through a revision of the Directive on priority substances in the field of water quality. The newly proposed substances are the outcome of a review that considered the risks posed by some 2000 substances according to their levels in surface waters, and their hazardousness, production and use.
EU News: The European Medicines Agency, together with the European Member States and the European Commission, is preparing for the introduction of the new pharmacovigilance legislation in July 2012, which will bring the biggest change to the legal framework since the establishment of the Agency in 1995.
Over the next 5 months, the Agency will finalise its preparations for the inaugural meeting of the new Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC), planned for 19 July 2012..
EU News: The European Parliament has blocked changes to nutrition labelling that would have allowed new "percentage less" claims on sugar, salt and fat content. The new labels could have confused or misled consumers, said a resolution voted by MEPs last week. The MEPs' rejection resolution says the Commission's proposal could have provided a disincentive for companies to reformulate their products with substantially lower sugar, salt and fat content.
EU News: By 2050 the global population is set to reach 9bn people and worldwide demand for food, feed & fibre is forecast to increase by 70%, which is why the Commission intends to revise the EU's Consumption and Production policies and has launched a public consultation that will remain open until 3 April 2012 – See ‘Consultations’ section for more information.
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