A.N. Deringer, Inc.’s Post

🇪🇺🚜 The EU agri-food chain Observatory starts working to restore trust and improve transparency in the food chain. The European Union agri-food chain Observatory (AFCO) held its first meeting on Wednesday 17 July. Its objective is to better understand the functioning of the supply chain and bring increased transparency on prices, structure of costs and distribution of margins and added value, while respecting confidentiality and competition rules. 🌐 Exchanging information and taking stock of the situation in the food supply chain and, in the medium-term, developing methodologies to assess and monitor the structure of costs and the distribution of margins and added value along the chain are among the Observatory’s main tasks. Members of the Observatory are representatives from the 27 EU countries’ national authorities as well as from 48 stakeholder organisations operating within the agri-food supply chain. These range from farmers, input providers, food industry, traders, to transport, logistics, retail and consumers. The European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee have an observer status. The list of the AFCO members and observers is available in the Register of Commission expert groups. >> https://lnkd.in/dmQg-AjA The second plenary meeting will be held in Autumn of this year. ♻️ Strengthening the position of farmers in the food supply chain is one of the key objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy. There are already several measures in place at EU level to ensure more fairness and protect farmers against unfair trading practices. Thanks Olga Trofimtseva for the information. #agrifood #supplychain #trade #retail #farmers

Trade and access to export markets remain critical to the dairy industry, and IDFA continues to prioritize the issue with this administration. IDFA this week submitted comments to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on the administration’s objective to develop strategies that support and advance U.S. supply chain resilience as a priority area in trade negotiations, enforcement, and other initiatives. Additionally, IDFA is grateful to be the only food and agriculture association invited to provide testimony at the USTR public hearing on May 2, 2024. Read the full statement and comments on IDFA's website: https://lnkd.in/e5aWQRRN #dairy #trade #supplychain #policy | Becky Rasdall

My article “Promoting Food Security through the Multilateral Trading System: Assessing the WTO’s Efforts, Identifying its Gaps, and Exploring the Way Forward” has been published as a book chapter in Next-Generation Approaches to Trade and Development: Balancing Economic, Social, & Environmental Sustainability, edited by Katrin Kuhlmann and published by Georgetown Center on Inclusive Trade and Development, and as an article in the Groningen Journal of International Law. The article analyses the WTO framework on agriculture ahead of MC12 with a focus on the Agreement on Agriculture and other relevant WTO decisions, revealing weaknesses that hinder the long-term achievement of food security. The article then delves into the reform proposals advanced by WTO Members in preparation for MC12 and discusses the outcomes achieved. In light of the difficulties in making progress at MC12 and the divergent views expressed by WTO Members on several issues impacting food security, the article sets forth some recommendations for both MC13 and the longer term to rethink the approach through which food security has been addressed at the WTO. Available here: https://lnkd.in/evRD6XH4

JUSTICE IS HERE: the French Highest Administrative Court just suspended ❌ the decree outlawing plant-based meat labels 🌱. This marks the second occasion on which they've taken such action. The judge, recognising doubts regarding the legality of the ban, has sought clarity from the Court of Justice of the European Union on whether a Member State can enact national measures to regulate or prohibit this specific designation. Across the globe, from France🇫🇷 to Italy🇮🇹, from Spain🇪🇸 to the US🇺🇸, the status quo industry endeavours to stall the inevitable by suggesting consumers are unaware of their purchases—a notion clearly at odds with reality. The war is far from over: 1️⃣ Dozens of laws in the making in other countries, pointing at many partners and the whole industry. 2️⃣ At Heura Foods, we routinely handle lawsuits, ensuring they are resolved without establishing any precedent to protect the future of the protein transition. Congrats to all our French Partners in Mission 💛 Protéines France, LA VIE™, ACCRO | Alternatives végétales, Nutrition & Santé, HappyVore for bringing justice to the table! https://lnkd.in/eYwcrQkk

⚖🥩🫛 The CJEU recently issued its judgment regarding the French decree that aimed to restrict the use of meat-related terms for plant-based products. The court ruled that since France has not yet defined legal names for terms traditionally linked to animal-based foods, it cannot prevent plant-based product manufacturers from using those terms. This case, initially brought by organizations such as the European Vegetarian Union, Association Protéines France, and the U.S. company Beyond Meat, will now be referred back to the French Council of State (Conseil d’Etat) for a final ruling. While the ruling offers Member States a pathway to establish legal names, it also serves as a clear warning: bans on specific terms cannot be arbitrarily imposed without proper legal justification. This decision raises important questions: Will this lead to harmonization challenges across the EU? And are consumers able to clearly differentiate between plant-based and animal-based products?   For further info, see 👇 https://lnkd.in/dfFVJjMZ and https://lnkd.in/epAZUWUS   Check the full judgment here 👇 https://lnkd.in/dTtx7JEs #plantbased #plantbasedmeat #foodlaw #judgment #EU #CJEU

WEBINAR | Join us on Thursday, 26 September 2024, to learn about regulatory trends and challenges in the fresh fruit and vegetables sector. 🍎🥦 Quality and food safety are very important in the European trade of fresh produce. European rules on chemical residues are strict, and major retailers often have even higher demands. There is little room for negotiation, so being well-prepared is essential. Webinar Highlights: 1. Trends and challenges in European market requirements 2. How to prepare for regulatory demands and avoid border rejections 3. Important information on crop protection product residues 4. Where to find useful regulatory information.  5. Meet our host and expert speakers: Thomas Vonk, Michel Peperkamp, and Michel Witmer This webinar is important for entrepreneurs and business support organisations in the fresh fruit and vegetable sector. It is a must-attend for anyone who wants to export to the European market and understand the market requirements and regulatory challenges. 🔗 See the full agenda and register here: https://lnkd.in/ejkMvcbJ #CBI #freshproduce #webinar #foodsafety

The creativity, innovation and constant strive for improvement that characterises the European #brewing sector had made our continent a leading #beer-producing region. Currently, the brewing sector accounts for: 🍻 10 000 breweries 💶 €40 billion in government revenues 💼 over 2 million jobs The last few years have however been particularly challenging for the brewing sector, evidencing how intertwined beer is with European society and the economy. This also shows how strong support is crucial to ensure the industry can continue to be a leading contributor to European social, economic, and sustainable development. Therefore, ahead of the new EU political mandate, we urge policymakers to maintain Europe's leadership in #beer production by removing unnecessary bureaucratic burdens, cultivating a robust industrial policy that supports brewers in the twin transition. Decision makers should also broaden the dialogue on the future of EU agriculture to include the entire agri-food chain, thereby recognising beer and its raw ingredients as strategic products for a competitive and sustainable EU agricultural policy. Read our Manifesto to learn more: https://loom.ly/Mu0R0pk #EUElections2024 #BeerFuture

The USDA's Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) final rule will be enforced on September 19, 2024, requiring organic food manufacturers and processors, even those outside the US, to obtain organic import and export certifications. The new requirements, the most significant update to organic regulations since the original Act in 1990, are complex and time is running out to apply for certification before the enforcement date. Read our senior technical reviewer and organic inspector at Quality Assurance International (QAI), an NSF company, Roxanne Beavers' advice for exporters seeking certification in the latest Food in Canada magazine, at https://lnkd.in/gFZ5TMQu. See if your business can benefit from NSF's rush services, ensuring no disruptions in your organic operations at https://lnkd.in/esDWfryk. #Organic #SOE #NSF

Do you want to announce your product as #Organic in China ❓ ✅ CCIC  and CQC provide certification services, which are specialized in organic products. From our issued Chinese Organic #Certificate, your product will be authorized to use the organic trademark in China. In the Chinese consumer market this trademark gives the products major market advantages. ⏩ We accompany your company in every step of the process. From the application to obtaining your certificate. Another benefit you get by choosing us is that you can save a lot of travel costs, since we have one certified auditor in #Germany. The certificate needs to be renewed after one year, to ensure the products still suits the GB #standards. 👷♂️ Moreover our services cover the technical service, the related GB standards consultations, Chinese organic product certification policies/regulations consultations as well as the factory audit and much more. 😊 Do you also want to #profit from our services and get your products organic certified? If you are interested in this topic and want to get to more information about the process and the roughly budget, just leave a #comment or directly #contact us! #china #organicfood #organiccertification #marketaccess #company #future #economy #sustainability

If you would like to read some insights about last weeks' webinar look no further than the post from Sophie Aujean below!