As the world’s second largest economy and with an ever-expanding domestic market, including a growing wealthy middle-class with a taste for high-quality products with foreign labels, China is an opportunity European businesses and investors cannot afford to ignore… But it’s a difficult market to access! And not a very fair nor transparent one… So, what is the EU doing to achieve a real level playing field for EU investors in China?

EPRS policy podcast - EU - China: International Agreements in Progress

To help consumers to make healthier food choices, the European Commission wants producers of foods and drinks to display clear nutritional information on the front-of-pack. But this may not be so simple… Some Member States have already introduced their own labelling schemes to mark “healthy” products but will the EU win the battle at European scale?

EPRS policy podcast - Nutrition labelling schemes used in Member States

European food safety policy aims are twofold: to protect human health and consumers’ interests, and to foster the smooth operation of the European single market.

The EU thus ensures that control standards are established and adhered to in the areas of feed and food-product hygiene, animal health, plant health and the prevention of food contamination from external substances. The Union also regulates labelling for food and feed products.

In the wake of a series of human food and animal feed crises, EU food safety policy underwent substantial reform in the early 2000s. The ‘Farm to Fork’ approach was defined, guaranteeing a high level of safety at all stages of the production and distribution process for all food products marketed within the EU, whether produced within the EU or imported from third countries.

Food safety

The European Union produces more than&nbsp;2.2 billion tonnes of waste every year. It is currently updating its&nbsp;legislation on waste management&nbsp;to promote a shift to a more sustainable model known as the circular economy.

The circular economy is a&nbsp;model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the&nbsp;life cycle of products is extended.

In March 2020, the European Commission presented the circular economy action plan,&nbsp;&nbsp;which aims to promote more sustainable product design, reduce waste and empower consumers, for example by creating aright to repair). There is a focus on resource intensive sectors, such as&nbsp;electronics and ICT,&nbsp;plastics,&nbsp;textiles&nbsp;and construction.

In February 2021, the Parliament adopted a resolution on the&nbsp;new circular economy action plan&nbsp;demanding additional measures to achieve a carbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable, toxic-free and fully circular economy by 2050, including tighter recycling rules and&nbsp;binding targets for materials use and consumption&nbsp;by 2030.

In March 2022, the Commission released the&nbsp;first package of measures&nbsp;to speed up the transition towards a circular economy, as part of the circular economy action plan. The proposals include boosting sustainable products, empowering consumers for the green transition, reviewing construction product regulation, and creating a strategy on sustainable textiles.

In November 2022, the Commission proposed&nbsp;new EU-wide rules on packaging. It aims to reduce packaging waste and improve packaging design, with for example clear labelling to promote reuse and recycling; and calls for a transition to bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics.

Circular economy

Recent tests on branded food in three 'new' EU Member States have shown that the taste and composition of these products, sold under the same name and in the same packaging, sometimes differ from the 'same' products sold in neighbouring 'old' Member States.

Companies are known to change the composition of their branded products to adjust to local taste, local ingredients, divergent purchasing power, etc. EU legislation does not consider this to be misleading, as long as the products are safe, properly labelled and not falsely advertised as being identical to those sold in another Member State.

Dual quality of products - 8th parliamentary term

European food safety policy aims are twofold: to protect human health and consumers’ interests, and to foster the smooth operation of the single European market.

The EU ensures that control standards are established and adhered to in the areas of feed and food-product hygiene, animal health, plant health and the prevention of food contamination from external substances. The Union also regulates labelling for food and feed products.

Food safety - 8th parliamentary term

Organic farming is an overall system of farm management and food production that respects natural life cycles. It minimises the human impact on the environment and operates as naturally as possible, in accordance with objectives and principles

The development of organic production is a political objective of the EU. Although its organic market has constantly expanded, the EU's organic land area still represents only 6% of the total agricultural area and the difference between EU demand and production is covered by growing imports.To overcome the regulatory obstacles to the&nbsp; development of the sector and increase consumer confidence in the EU organic logo, in March 2014 the Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products, repealing Regulation No 834/2007.

Organic food

The European Parliament 's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety is responsible for food safety issues, including the labelling and safety of foodstuffs, veterinary legislation safeguarding against risks to human health, and public health checks on foodstuffs and food production systems.

Parliament is also particularly vigilant with regard to threats to consumer health related to cloned animals and nanomaterials or GMOs. It scrutinises and regularly opposes draft proposals for authorisation or renewal of new genetically modified plants such as maize or soya beans. In order to ensure greater transparency throughout the food chain and to better inform European consumers, Parliament, in a resolution adopted in May 2016, reiterated its call on the Commission to present legislative proposals for the mandatory indication of the origin of, in particular, meat used as an ingredient in processed foods. This should restore consumer confidence in the wake of the horsemeat scandal and other food fraud cases. In 2017, Parliament and Council agreed upon new rules to tighten up official food inspections aimed at improving food traceability and combating fraud. During the negotiations, Parliament managed to strengthen enforcement in relation to fraudulent or deceptive practices.

#EUelections2019 - Food safety

Voting session

Breakfast directive - Illustration

Breakfast directive - illustration

Statements by the President

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

Composition of political groups

Composition of Parliament

Follow-up to a request for the defence of immunity

Composition of committees and delegations

Calendar of part-sessions of the Parliament - 2025

Signing of acts adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (Rule 79)

Order of business

Resumption of the sitting

Horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 (debate)

Substantiation and communication of explicit environmental claims (Green Claims Directive) (debate)

Energy performance of buildings (recast) (debate)

Definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of Union restrictive measures (debate)

Liability for defective products (short presentation)

Amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 as regards the digital labelling of EU fertilising products (short presentation)

European Maritime Safety Agency and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002 (short presentation)

Amending the Directive on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes (short presentation)

20240311-0900-PLENARY

Agenda of the next sitting

Approval of the minutes of the sitting

Closure of the sitting

Plenary session

Press conference by Biljana BORZAN, rapporteur on empowering consumers by fighting greenwashing and improving product labelling

Opening of the sitting

Interim report on the proposal for a mid-term revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 (debate)

European Media Freedom Act (debate)

The 10-year commemoration since the tragedy in Lampedusa(statement by the President)

Statement by the President

Voting time

Corrupt large-scale sale of Schengen visas (debate)

Medicine shortages and strategic healthcare autonomy in the EU (debate)

Question Time (Commission) - EU-China trade relations

Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan’s attack and the continuing threats against Armenia (debate)

Taking stock of Moldova's path to the EU (debate)

Recent developments in the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, including the situation in the northern municipalities in Kosovo (debate)

EU-Switzerland relations (debate)

Uzbekistan (debate)

Classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (debate)

The 10th consecutive increase in reference interest rates decided by the ECB and its consequences (debate)

Explanations of vote

Report: Sabine Verheyen (A9-0264/2023) - European Media Freedom Act

Resumption of the session

Request for the defence of immunity: see Minutes

Announcement by the President : see Minutes

Corrigenda (Rule 231): see Minutes

Signature of acts adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure (Rule 78): see Minutes

Report on financial crimes, tax evasion and tax avoidance (debate)

Situation of rule of law and fight against corruption in the EU, specifically in Malta and Slovakia

Discontinuing seasonal changes of time (debate)

Common rules for the internal market for electricity - Internal market for electricity - European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators - Risk-preparedness in the electricity sector (debate)

Representative actions for the protection of the collective interests of consumers (debate)

Recent developments on the Dieselgate scandal (debate)

Labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other essential parameters (debate)

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes

Plenary

Eric ANDRIEU (S&D, FR), rapporteur, on “The reform of the CAP and wine labelling”

Organic production and labelling of organic products (debate)

Definition, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks and protection of geographical indications thereof (debate)

Energy efficiency labelling - Compensation for wrongly labelled energy-related products (debate)

Energy efficiency labelling (debate)

Country of origin labelling for meat ingredients in processed food (debate)

Common rules for direct support schemes for farmers - Support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development - Common organisation of agricultural markets and specific provisions for certain agricultural products - Financing of the common agricultural policy - Organic production and labelling of organic products - System of financing by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (debate)

European Heritage Label (debate)

Voluntary system of labelling in Braille format on the packaging of industrial products (written declaration)

Textile names and related labelling of textile products (debate)

Press conference: Toine MANDERS , Lara COMI , Christel SCHALDEMOSE on the outcome of the vote on Textile labelling proposal

IMCO trilogue on Digital Labelling of EU fertilizing Products

Press conference on empowering consumers by fighting greenwashing and improving product labelling

EP Plenary session - Classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures

AGRI Trilogue on labelling of organic pet food

STOA Workshop - Making climate-friendly choices: Towards simplified, harmonised, horizontal framework for a European climate label

Tyres change private cars  - Labelling tyres

ITRE Committee - Vote on the ' Labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other essential parameters '

Meeting on the 2019 Ecodesign and Energy Labelling package

Press conference - The reform of the CAP and wine labelling

AGRI - ENVI - Public hearing : ' Labelling of Origin for Agricultural and Food Products '

Plenary session- Organic production and labelling of organic products

Plenary session Week 24 2017 in Strasbourg - Energy efficiency labelling - Compensation for wrongly labelled energy-related products - Binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement

Press conference - New Regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products

Country of origin labelling - S&D Meps

Demonstration of Fair Trade Label  TransFair at the European Parliament in Strasbourg

AGRI Committee Meeting:  Organic production and labelling of organic products

MEPs vote on the following topics: Laying down additional procedural rules relating to the enforcement of Regulation (EU) 2016/679; New Regulation on Construction Products; Amending Directive 2013/34/EU as regards the time limits for the adoption of sustainability reporting standards for certain sectors and for certain third-country undertakings; Methane emissions reduction in the energy sector; Mercury: dental amalgam and other mercury-added products subject to manufacturing, import and export restrictions; Strengthening the CO2 emission performance targets for new heavy-duty vehicles; Foodstuffs for human consumption: amending certain 'Breakfast' Directives; European environmental economic accounts: new modules; Union certification framework for carbon removals; Standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupation; and other topics.

Voting Session

MEPs debate on the following topics: The subscription by the EU to additional shares in the capital of the EBRD; Regulation (EU) No 2022/869 of the EP and of the Council; Industrial Emissions Directive; Industrial Emissions Portal; Definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of Union restrictive measures; Amending Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating; Use of railway infrastructure capacity in the single European railway area; Amending certain financial services and investment; Energy performance of buildings; Horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements; Green Claims Directive; Liability for defective products; Amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 as regards the digital labelling of EU fertilising products; European Maritime Safety Agency; Council decision inviting Member States to ratify the Violence and Harassment Convention; and Extending Rule 168 of EP's rules.

Voting session, including the final vote on the Energy performance of buildings Directive

Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT) rapporteur and Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), Chair of the Committee for Agriculture, speak to the press on Geographical Indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT) rapporteur and Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), Chair of the Committee for Agriculture on Geographical Indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products

The new rules enhance the integrity of election campaigns and help fight disinformation and foreign interference. The regulation requires political advertising to be clearly labelled, allowing citizens to see why they were targeted, who sponsored the ad, how much they paid and to which elections or referendum it pertains. Sponsoring ads from outside the EU is prohibited in the three-month period leading up to elections. All online political ads are available in an online ad repository. Under the new rules, separate and explicit consent must be obtained to use personal data for targeted ads, while the use of special categories of personal data (e.g. ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation) or minors’ data are banned. Closing statements by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency and Sandro GOZI, Rapporteur.

Transparency and targeting of political advertising: Closing statements by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency and Sandro GOZI, Rapporteur

The new rules enhance the integrity of election campaigns and help fight disinformation and foreign interference. The regulation requires political advertising to be clearly labelled, allowing citizens to see why they were targeted, who sponsored the ad, how much they paid and to which elections or referendum it pertains. Sponsoring ads from outside the EU is prohibited in the three-month period leading up to elections. All online political ads are available in an online ad repository. Under the new rules, separate and explicit consent must be obtained to use personal data for targeted ads, while the use of special categories of personal data (e.g. ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation) or minors’ data are banned. MEPs debate.

Transparency and targeting of political advertising: MEPs debate

The new rules enhance the integrity of election campaigns and help fight disinformation and foreign interference. The regulation requires political advertising to be clearly labelled, allowing citizens to see why they were targeted, who sponsored the ad, how much they paid and to which elections or referendum it pertains. Sponsoring ads from outside the EU is prohibited in the three-month period leading up to elections. All online political ads are available in an online ad repository. Opening statements by Sandro GOZI (Renew, IT), Rapporteur and Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency, Sabine VERHEYEN (EPP, DE), Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT), Anna Júlia DONÁTH (Renew, HU), Angelika NIEBLER (EPP, DE), and Daniel FREUND (Greens/EFA, DE). This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Transparency and targeting of political advertising: Opening statements by Sandro GOZI, Rapporteur, Věra JOUROVÁ, VP of the EC, Sabine VERHEYEN (EPP, DE), Anna Júlia DONÁTH (Renew, HU), Angelika NIEBLER (EPP, DE), and Daniel FREUND (Greens/EFA, DE)

This infoclip shows honey, fruit juice, jam. The revision aims to help consumers make informed and healthier decisions on agri-food products such as honey, fruit juice, jam, jellies and marmalades

Infoclip: 'Breakfast directives' - clearer labelling of honey, fruit juice, jam

Biljana BORZAN, (S&D, HR), Rapporteur, holds a press conference on empowering consumers by fighting greenwashing and improving product labelling. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Biljana BORZAN, (S&D, HR), rapporteur on empowering consumers by fighting greenwashing and improving product labelling

MEPs debate on a directive which improves product labelling and ban the use of misleading environmental claims. The new rules make product labelling clearer and more trustworthy by banning the use of general environmental claims like “environmentally friendly”, “natural”, “biodegradable”, “climate neutral” or “eco” without proof. The directive allows the use of sustainability labels that are based on official certification schemes or established by public authorities. Closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice and Biljana BORZAN (S&D, HR), Rapporteur.

Empowering consumers for the green transition: closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice and Biljana BORZAN (S&D, HR), Rapporteur

MEPs debate on a directive which improves product labelling and ban the use of misleading environmental claims. The new rules make product labelling clearer and more trustworthy by banning the use of general environmental claims like “environmentally friendly”, “natural”, “biodegradable”, “climate neutral” or “eco” without proof. The directive allows the use of sustainability labels that are based on official certification schemes or established by public authorities. MEPs debate

Empowering consumers for the green transition: MEPs debate

MEPs debate on a directive which improves product labelling and ban the use of misleading environmental claims. The new rules make product labelling clearer and more trustworthy by banning the use of general environmental claims like “environmentally friendly”, “natural”, “biodegradable”, “climate neutral” or “eco” without proof. The directive allows the use of sustainability labels that are based on official certification schemes or established by public authorities. Opening statements by Biljana BORZAN (S&D, HR), Rapporteur, Edina TÓTH (NI, HU), ENVI Committee and Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice. The transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please, check against delivery.

Empowering consumers for the green transition: opening statements by Biljana BORZAN (S&D, HR), Rapporteur, Edina TÓTH (NI, HU), ENVI Committee and Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

This news item shows extracts from the signature of six COD LEX texts by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and José Manuel ALBARES BUENO, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Spanish Presidency of the Council. The six COD LEX texts are about consumer credits, ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport , on the promotion of energy from renewable sources, on geographical indication protection for craft and industrial products, on establishing the European defence industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act and on the labelling of organic pet food.

LEX signing ceremony: signature of six COD LEX texts by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and José Manuel ALBARES BUENO, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Spanish Presidency of the Council

MEP s vote on the dollowing topics: Classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures - Spyraki; Mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Romania and Italy in relation to natural disasters in 2022 and to Türkiye in relation to the earthquakes in February 2023 - Cseh; Segregation and discrimination of Roma children in education - Motion for resolution; Harmonising the rights of autistic persons - Motion for resolution; Standardised dimensions for carry-on luggage - Motion for resolution; EU-Switzerland relations - Mandl; Uzbekistan - Kyuchyuk.

MEPs vote on the following files: Multiannual management plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean - Clara Aguilera; Labelling organic pet food - Martin Häusling; Standards of quality and safety for substances of human origin intended for human application - Nathalie Colin-Oesterlé; Accession to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications - Marion Walsmann;System of European Schools - state of play, challenges and perspectives - Ilana Cicurel; Objection pursuant to Rule 112(2) and (3): Genetically modified maize MON 87419; Objection pursuant to Rule 112(2) and (3): Genetically modified maize GA21 × T25.

Voting session (part 2)

MEPs debate on the world’s first set of comprehensive rules to manage AI risk and promote uses of AI that align with EU values including human oversight, privacy, and non-discrimination. The rules follow a risk-based approach and establish obligations for providers and users depending on the level of risk the AI can generate. They would prohibit AI systems with unacceptable levels of risk. They are also proposing tailor-made rules for generative AI, like ChatGPT, including labelling AI-generated content and making publicly-available summaries of copyrighted data used for training. To boost AI innovation, MEPs propose exemptions for research activities and open-source AI components. Closing statements by Margrethe VESTAGER, EC Executive VP in charge of Europe fit for the Digital Age, and Commissioner for Competition and by Brando BENIFEI (S&D, IT) and by Dragoş TUDORACHE (Renew, RO), Rapporteurs

Artificial Intelligence Act: Closing statements by Margrethe VESTAGER, EC Executive VP in charge of Europe fit for the Digital Age, and Commissioner for Competition and by Brando BENIFEI (S&D, IT) and by Dragoş TUDORACHE (Renew, RO), Rapporteurs

MEPs debate on the world’s first set of comprehensive rules to manage AI risk and promote uses of AI that align with EU values including human oversight, privacy, and non-discrimination. The rules follow a risk-based approach and establish obligations for providers and users depending on the level of risk the AI can generate. They would prohibit AI systems with unacceptable levels of risk. They are also proposing tailor-made rules for generative AI, like ChatGPT, including labelling AI-generated content and making publicly-available summaries of copyrighted data used for training. To boost AI innovation, MEPs propose exemptions for research activities and open-source AI components. First part of Second part of MEPs debate

Artificial Intelligence Act: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate on the world’s first set of comprehensive rules to manage AI risk and promote uses of AI that align with EU values including human oversight, privacy, and non-discrimination. The rules follow a risk-based approach and establish obligations for providers and users depending on the level of risk the AI can generate. They would prohibit AI systems with unacceptable levels of risk. They are also proposing tailor-made rules for generative AI, like ChatGPT, including labelling AI-generated content and making publicly-available summaries of copyrighted data used for training. To boost AI innovation, MEPs propose exemptions for research activities and open-source AI components. First part of MEPs debate

Artificial Intelligence Act: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate on the world’s first set of comprehensive rules to manage AI risk and promote uses of AI that align with EU values including human oversight, privacy, and non-discrimination. The rules follow a risk-based approach and establish obligations for providers and users depending on the level of risk the AI can generate. They would prohibit AI systems with unacceptable levels of risk. They are also proposing tailor-made rules for generative AI, like ChatGPT, including labelling AI-generated content and making publicly-available summaries of copyrighted data used for training. Opening statements by Brando BENIFEI and by Dragoş TUDORACHE, Rapporteurs, by Eva MAYDELL; Marcel KOLAJA; Axel VOSS by Margrethe VESTAGER, Thierry BRETON, and by Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ and Josianne CUTAJAR. The transcript is the result of an automated process. Please check against delivery.

Artificial Intelligence Act: opening statements by Brando BENIFEI and by Dragoş TUDORACHE, Rapporteurs, by Eva MAYDELL; Marcel KOLAJA; Axel VOSS by Margrethe VESTAGER, Thierry BRETON, and by Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ and Josianne CUTAJAR

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Voting session