EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
EU News: The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) scientific opinion published recently, suggests that traditional poultry meat inspection may not suffice to fully address the most relevant biological hazards to public health: Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp. and ESBL/AmpC gene-carrying bacteria.
EFSA’s opinion that provides a scientific basis for the modernisation of poultry meat inspection proposes that risk-based interventions coupled with the improved use of information shared between farms and abattoirs (known as Food Chain Information) would be more effective.
EU News: The European Commission has recently set out the detailed rules aimed at reducing the risk of settlement failures linked to naked short selling, as well as the means by which market participants should disclose significant short positions to the market.
The technical standards adopted last week by the Commission are based on the work of the European Securities & Markets Authority (ESMA). They notably specify the details of the so-called ‘locate rule’, which ensures that short sales do not result in a failure to deliver. The new rules also detail how ESMA is to determine the shares which are exempt from the Short Selling Regulation by virtue of their principal trading venue being outside the Union.
EU News: The EU Police Mission in (EUPM BiH), the first mission under the European Security & Defence Policy (ESDP), completed its mandate last week. Initially launched on 1 January 2003 for a period of 3 years, EUPM continued its mission beyond this at the request of the authorities of BiH, regularly adjusting its size & role as necessary as part of the EU's efforts to support the rule of law.
EU News: The European Medicines Agency has welcomed the start of new European Union (EU) legislation on pharmacovigilance. This new piece of legislation aims to ‘promote & protect public health by strengthening the existing Europe-wide system for monitoring the safety & benefit-risk balance of medicines’.
EU News: More efficient recording devices in trucks and adequate equipment for inspectors will help ensure stricter compliance with rules on driving & rest times for lorry drivers. The legislative resolution adopted by Parliament on Tuesday, 3 July2012 will make roads safer for everyone.
The regulation sets new technical standards for digital tachographs, which have been mandatory for heavy goods vehicles of more than 3.5 tonnes since May 2006. It lays down detailed rules for their use, type approval, installation & inspection with a view to combating tampering which is too widespread, according to an assessment carried out for the Commission.
EU News: Rules on how customs officials confiscate, store & destroy imports of counterfeit or pirated goods that infringe intellectual property rights were clarified by Parliament in a vote last Tuesday.
EU News: The Commission has presented a legislative package that raises standards & removes loopholes for the benefit of consumers. Specifically, the package proposes new, consumer-friendly standards for information about investments, raises standards for advice, and tightens certain rules on investment funds to ensure their safety.
EU News: The European Commission and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy have recently outlined the way forward for the EU's constructive engagement in the Arctic.
EU News: The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a scientific statement upon request from the European Commission that takes into consideration the latest research on animal clones and their offspring for food production purposes.
EU News: The European Commission is inviting comments on its first draft of a revised communication on the application of EU state aid rules to short-term export credit insurance 21 September 2012 – See ‘Consultations’ section for more information.
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