/ E-info 03/07
To the UECBV Members
To the YEMCo Members
Brussels, 2nd February 2007

Dear Members,

Please find the UECBV E-info 03-2007.

As part of their membership, YEMCo members are entitled to receive the E-info. It is being passed on through you – the national federation.

Please identify the YEMCo members of your country and send the E-info to them.

Best regards,

UECBV Secretariat

COMMISSION

Top News from the European Commission: 29 January – 25 February 2007

AGRI

New study looks at agriculture and rural areas until 2020

"Scenar 2020 - Scenario study on agriculture and the rural world"

Agriculture News Digest No. 163

SANCO

REGULATORY COMMITTEES

  • Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

- Section Animal Nutrition

Summary record of 18-19 December

- Section Toxicological Safety of the Food Chain

- Section: Animal Health and Animal Welfare

Summary reports : Presentations 26 January 2007.

Classical Swine Fever - Bulgaria

Classical Swine Fever - Hungary

AI - Hungary

Agenda of 26 January 2007

FOOD SAFETY

Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF): Week 4

Residues of Veterinary Medicinal Products - Third Countries

6. General instructions and pro formas for submission plans and results.

Addition of Vitamins & Minerals
Community Register Updated

Food and Veterinary Office

Country Profiles

Lithuania

Inspection reports

FR France - GMO - Controls on food and feed

ANIMAL HEALTH

Commissioner Markos Kyprianou: “New Challenges for Europe's New Animal Strategy”; Green Week Berlin, 25 January 2007

Animal Disease Notification System: Table 11 of 26 January 2007

Overviews for the previous years 2005 and 2006 updated 26-01-2007

Control Measures
Classical swine fever Updated

Avian Influenza

Avian Influenza : Hungarian measures endorsed (3rd bullet point Midday Express of 26 January 2007)

Health and consumers Protection: Avian Influenza - Highly pathogenic H5 virus confirmed in Hungary

Avian Influenza - More information on additional measures taken against Avian Influenza Updated

Community Reference Laboratory – Proceedings

Programme and presentations of the Joint Annual Meeting of the National Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza Laboratories of Countries of the European Union 2006 Programme and presentations

Communication from Member States concerning identification of bovine animals
Romania Updated

ANIMAL WELFARE

Conclusion of the Workshop "Castration of piglets"

Foods for Infants & Young Children
Cereals and other baby foods Updated

Infant Formulae and Follow-on Formulae Updated

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS – ORGANISATIONS

OIE
Draft written comments of the Community on on the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code Commission meeting October 2006 prior to the next Code Commission meeting March 2007 for consideration in the 75th General Session to be held in May 2007

TRADE

“The alternative to what's on the table is not the perfect deal, but no deal at all”; Opening remarks by Peter Mandelson to the meeting of WTO Ministers, Davos, Switzerland, 27 January 2007

Mandelson meets Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz

ENVIRONMENT

Stricter fuel standards to combat climate change and reduce air pollution

Commissioner Stavros Dimas: “Achieving our climate change objectives through renewable energy” European Renewable Energy Policy Conference Brussels, 29 January 2007

Commissioner Stavros DIMAS Declaration on climate change at the European Parliament

COMPETITION

State aid: Commission refers The Netherlands to Court for failure to recover illegal aid to manure companies

State aid: Commission opens investigation into Danish scheme to improve SME access to risk capital

TRANSPORT

Strengthening transport cooperation with neighbouring countries

Vice-président Jacques Barrot : "Le futur du rail européen" Conférence Eurorailfreight
Bruxelles, le 30 janvier 2007

Rail passenger and goods transport: Passenger transport up by 2.2% in 2005 in the EU25 Goods transport stable

ENERGY

Commissioner Andris Piebalgs: “Energy for a Changing World: The New European Energy Policy” Speech at the EU Energy Law and Policy conference Brussels, 25 January 2007

Commissioner Andris Piebalgs: „ Energie für eine Welt im Wandel: die neue europäische Energiepolitik“ Speech at the 14th Handelsblatt Annual Energy Conference Berlin, 24 January 2007

Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign 2005 – 2008

European Barometer of Renewable Energies 2006

ECONOMY AND FINANCE

January 2007: Economic sentiment weakens in both the EU and the euro area

TAXUD

A security-related update to the Community Customs Code has recently become law. For further information on the implications for supply chain security see the Customs Security web pagefeaturing a fact sheet and a list of frequently asked questions.

EUROSTAT

Flash estimate - January 2007: Euro area inflation estimated at 1.9%

December 2006: Euro area unemployment down to 7.5%

EU25 current account deficit 21.7 bn euro

COUNCIL

2777th Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting - Brussels, 29.01.2007 (provisional version)

2778th Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting Brussels - 30.01.2007 (provisional version) (a. o. Better regulation, Reducing the administrative burden for businesses)

Changes within the European Union as from 1 January 2007

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

NEWS – Headlines

German ministers brief committees on Presidency priorities

Plenary Sessions

Briefing - 31 January - 1 February 2007 – Brussels

Committee Sessions in Brussels

  1. Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Calendar of meetings AGRI in 2007

Next meeting 26/27 February no agenda available

  1. Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

ENVI meeting dates for 2007

Next meeting 26 - 28 February no agenda available

  1. Committee on International Trade

Next meeting 27/28 February no agenda available

EFSA

Science

Application under regulation (EC) 1829/2003 on Genetically Modified Food and Feed [GM Food Feed Application]

Application under Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition - Feedap table updated

Bluetongue Serotype 8 Epidemic Bulletin by EFSA Epidemiology working Group - updated
Opinion adopted by the AHAW Panel regarding the assessment of the risk of Echinococcosis introduction into the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Malta and Finland as a consequence of abandoning national rules

Opinion of the AFC Panel on Sucrose esters of fatty acids E 473 and sucroglycerides E 474 - Modified

Opinion of the Scientific Panel AFC related to 2,2-BIS(4-HYDROXYPHENYL) PROPANE

Opinion of the Scientific Panel AFC on the presence of 1,2-Benzisothiazolin-3-one as an impurity in saccharin use as a food additive

Opinion of the AFC Panel on Sucrose esters of fatty acids E 473 and sucroglycerides E 474 - Modified

Opinion of the Scientific Panel AFC related to Use of formaldehyde as a preservative during the manufacture and preparation of food additives

Meeting documents

Agenda of the 31st plenary meeting of the GMO Panel - 31 January - 1 February 2007 - Parma

Minutes of the 20th plenary meeting of the AFC Panel

Minutes of the 28th plenary meeting of the BIOHAZ Panel - 13-14 December 2006 - Parma

See the video of the 29th Management Board meeting held in Parma on the 23rd January 2007 and covering the following points:

  • Recommendations for temporary Maximum Residue Levels for pesticides
  • Scientific advice on nutrition and health claims including nutrient profiles
  • Guidelines for substances used in active and intelligent food contact materials
  • A risk assessment of animal feed contaminated with veterinary pharmaceuticals
  • Guidance on GM animals used as food and feed such as GM fish

Other

Article 36 cooperation: new list of competent organisations designated by the member states which may assist the authority with its mission

WTO

Trade Policy Review: Japan - Economic recovery but continued reform is needed.

Lamy to address WTO - UNEP meeting on trade and environment

WTO issues panel report on Ecuador — US shrimp dispute

World Economic Forum live webcast 27 January 2007

OIE

Latest Disease Information issue

Update on avian influenza in animals : 31 January

Alert Messages

Newcastle disease in Czech Republic

Foot and mouth disease in Bolivia

Classical swine fever in Hungary

Highly pathogenic avian influenza in Hungary

Highly pathogenic avian influenza in Thailand

USDA

FACT SHEET: USDA's 2007 Farm Bill Proposals

NEWS RELEASE: Johanns Unveils 2007 Farm Bill Proposals

Transcript of Remarks by Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns as he Unveiled USDA&s 2007 Farm Bill Proposals

VIEW: USDA 2007 Farm Bill Proposals by Title

VIDEO: Johanns Unveils 2007 Farm Bill Proposal

WEBSITE: 2007 Farm Bill Proposals

SEMINARS / MEETINGS / CONSULTATIONS/ INTERESTING WEBSITES

TAXATION

First Brussels Tax Forum scheduled for 19-20 March 2007 organised by DG TAXUD

Topic :Taxation for sustainable development

Conference programme Online registration

The deadline for registration is 28 February.

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