Hard negotiations followed by new European rules put to bed
long-standing disputes over labelling issues that hung over
chocolate manufacturers. As more European manufacturers turn to
vegetable fats, the challenge is on for ingredients...
Controversial changes over two years ago to Europe's chocolate
rules - that had cocoa puritans and producers up in arms - came
into force in the summer, providing ingredients companies with a
raft of new opportunities.
Large-scale investment in Germany's milk sector looks set to be
given the go ahead. The payment of €40 million to the dairy group
Alois Müller has been approved under EU state aid rules.
As a raft of new food legislation, notably the labelling of food
allergens and genetically modified organisms, enters into force in
Europe, food manufacturers cannot afford to be less than au
fait with the new rules. Under the umbrella...
European research into the potential carcinogen acrylamide has
received a massive injection of cash to boost the biggest
international project to date on toxic substances formed when food
is heated.
Measures to soften the impact of poor cereal harvests in Europe and
boost the grain market were introduced by Europe's agriculture
commissioner this week.
The European Parliament has cleared amendments to the sweetener
directive, but only after setting up a trail of conditions -
including a closer monitoring of new sweeteners.
A European Union court ruling has today forced ice cream
manufacturers to allow rival companies access to their freezer
space. The court rejected Unilever's appeal against a Commission
decision banning it from forcing retailers...
Arla Foods and Express Dairies have been given the go ahead to
merge their UK businesses after the Competition Commission found no
evidence that the deal would adversely impact the liquid milk
market.
The European market for soya-based food products in Europe has
reached a value of €1.3 billion, and a recent survey predicts
further double digit growth for the period 2003 - 2005.
German confectionery and bakery producers have strongly criticised
the current EU system designed to keep sugar prices artificially
high, arguing that it makes European companies uncompetitive when
it comes to exports.
A project focusing on three major industry sectors, including
dairy, gathered government representatives and industry
participants together this week to define actions on food safety in
a wider Europe.
The European Commission yesterday slammed a €138.4 million fine on
four sorbate companies that supply the dairy industry after being
accused of operating a cartel in the 1990s.
Cargill Incorporated is to acquire European industrial chocolate
company OCG Cacao as its first significant investment into
chocolate manufacturing in Europe.
Despite the failure of Cancun, it still seems likely that Europe's
sugar regime will be overhauled. Europe's farm commissioner said
that the continuation of the EU's heavily subsidy sugar industry is
simply unviable.
The decision not to join the single European currency will have a
negative effect on one of Sweden's biggest food companies, Arla
Foods, which has operations in the UK, Denmark and Sweden.
Imminent reforms to the EU sugar regime could slice millions off
the sugar profits for Associated British Foods (ABF), the owner of
British Sugar, and Danisco.
The UK's FSA has published guidance notes to accompany the new
cocoa and chocolate product regulations in an effort to achieve a
'more consistent application and enforcement of the regulations'.
The European Commission on Friday approved plans by US company
Archer Daniels Midland to purchase food giant Unilever's edible oil
refining subsidiary VDBO.
The Competition Commission's decision to investigate the proposed
merger between Arla UK and Express Dairies could have an adverse
effect on profits at the latter group.
BakeMark International, an international provider of bakery
ingredients and supplies, is boosting its capabilities in fats for
the Eastern European market.
The UK competition authorities have asked permission from the
European Commission to rule on the proposed merger of Arla Foods
and Express Dairies in the UK.
EU finance ministers are today trying to agree plans to tax
cross-border income from savings. But officials say they cannot
predict whether they will be able to manoeuvre around the issue of
Italian milk quotas.
With cheese sales declining as a result of price competition, the
unique marketing opportunity offered by the EU's Protected
Designation of Origin scheme could prove vital for boosting future
sales.
Swedish ingredients company Karlshamns reports that growing
competition and decreasing margins characterised the market for
chocolate fats designed to replace cocoa butter.
Dutch dairy group Campina has announced the acquisition of
Germany's Strothmann company, a move which will increase Campina's
presence in one of the most important dairy markets in Europe.
Greece's hard fought victory in the battle to win PDO status for
feta cheese could be short lived. France will join Denmark in
appealing against the EC's decision to give Greece the sole right
to feta production.
The thorny issue of 'health' claims on consumer food products
continued this week with the publication of a new report from the
UK Food Standards Agency. The findings, that consumers are confused
or unclear about the properties...
One of the toughest legislations in the world on genetically
modified organisms came into force in Europe on Thursday with a new
EU Directive that strengthens 10-year-old rules on testing and
licensing GMOs used as crops or ingredients.
Feta cheese is the latest food product to be protected by EU law,
joining the ranks of Champagne, parma ham or Newcastle Brown Ale.
The ruling that only Greece makes real feta cheese is a major blow
for producers in Denmark, where...
Progress towards the founding of Europe's Food Safety Authority
(EFSA) has been closely followed by Foodnavigator.com, including an
interview this week with the freshly appointed spokesman for the
EFSA, Andrew Stimpson. As such,...
The creation of a new European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is a
major component of the legal and organisational reforms to tackle
food safety in Europe. When the Council of Ministers recently
announced the composition of the new...
Signs that the functional food market is gaining ground were
revealed this week when the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA)
announced it is considering a 'novel food' application by a food
manufacturer to market 'milk and...
How easy is it to ensurethat foods and ingredients imported from
outside the EU are safe, ofsufficient quality and legal? How can UK
food companies ensure completetraceability of imported food
products? These questions will be tackled...
A European Commission Directive amending Commission Directive
96/77/EC for a fourth time was adopted unanimously by the Standing
Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 14June 2002,
reports the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA).
An advisory committee to the European Parliament has ruled that
draft rules on the labelling of genetically modified foods should
be toughened, to the delight of anti-GM campaigners throughout the
Union.
Anglo-Dutch consumer products group Unilever said on Thursday it
plans to open 75 Ben & Jerry's stores in Spain as a first step
to expand the ice cream maker's presence in Europe.
