Farming

Parliament set to approve tougher laws on pesticides

Thursday, 8 January 2009

Several substances tobe prohibited; gradual phase-out of fungicides and herbicides.

EU to help Irish pig farmers

Thursday, 11 December 2008

Scheme worth €15m would help put uncontaminated pigmeat into deep freeze.

Irish dioxin crisis spreads to beef

Wednesday, 10 December 2008

EU food agency says consumers should not be concerned by threat posed by contaminated pork; levels of cancer-inducing dioxin are hundred times lower in beef.

Drinks

Budvar wins 'Bud' case

Tuesday, 16 December 2008

Czech brewery overturns Anheuser-Busch's claim to the trademark ‘Bud' in Europe.

EU and Australia uncork wine deal

Monday, 1 December 2008

Deal spells the end of Australian champagne, port and claret.

Hoppy recognition

Thursday, 30 October 2008

Czech beer, recognised at last, recognised first.

Health & safety

Pesticides deal reached

Thursday, 18 December 2008

Agreement imposes partial ban on group of pesticides viewed as harmful to human health; permits would be differentiated to reflect geography and climate.

MEP chides food labelling proposal

Thursday, 11 December 2008

Plans criticised for “additional costs” for industry and “information overload”.

EU holding series of meetings over Irish pork scare

Monday, 8 December 2008

European Commission believes Ireland has so far taken “adequate measures” and that talk of a ban is premature.

Fish

EU strikes fish deal for northern waters

Friday, 19 December 2008

Cuts in quotas for white fish fall short of scientific advice; partial ban on shark fishing fails.

Commission wants zero cod quotas for western Scotland

Thursday, 18 December 2008

The European Commission and national ministers haggle over fish quotas for 2009.

Boycott urged after tuna deal

Tuesday, 25 November 2008

European Commission is accused of bullying in its bid to secure a bluefin tuna deal that scientists believe is unsustainable.

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Animal welfare

The EU must think again on animal research

Thursday, 8 January 2009

Commission's inexpert, untransparent committee has produced a one-sided and unscientific inquiry into the use of animals for research.

Going in search of the pet vote

Thursday, 20 November 2008

The European Parliament comes up with a pet night without pets.

Vetting shows European zoos in poor condition

Tuesday, 11 November 2008

Animal-welfare group says many European zoos are failing to meet standards that are already too low and too vague.