Food and agribusiness blog

Our food and agribusiness law blog offers you regular updates on the latest legal and policy decisions affecting the food and agribusiness industry.

  • Jessica Burt
    POSTED BY JESSICA BURT |

    EU E-labels for Wines & De-Alcoholised Wines

    E-labels are likely to increasingly become used in the food sector. By December 2023 all wine producers selling in the European Union will be legally required to provide allergy, energy, ingredient and nutritional information to consumers on their labels.  Regulation 2021/2117 also creates a critical distinction between what information must appear on physical labels and what information can be provided through 'electronic means' ie an e label via a QR code.  It also allows 'de-alcoholised' wines to be labelled as wines for the first time.
    Read more
    4 min read
  • POSTED BY JESSICA BURT |

    Food & Agri Update - 3 February

    Food inflation: sugar, alcohol & dog food. Competition & Markets Authority unit pricing investigation into retailers, eggs move from free range to barn reared, warnings on alcohol in Ireland, duty freeze changes, e-labels on wine in Europe and de-alcoholised wine. Aldi copyright infringement and the statutory test. Comparative nutrition claims reviewed by the ASA. Defra gives environmental targets to farmers and HSE fatality prosecution - £800k fine plus costs - keep your risk assessments up to date, vehicle & pedestrians separated and inform visitors. Almost 1/4 fatalities are from 'being struck by a moving vehicle'
    14 min read
  • POSTED BY JESSICA BURT |

    Food and Agri Update – Friday 27 Jan 2023

    Food inflation & apples, IGD global retail trends 2023, Competition & Markets Authority to scrutinise green washing in the food & drink sector, greenwashing litigation and the prospect of EU 'green claims' legislation, Fairtrade new online map launched, ASA advertising rulings on unsubstantiated claims, and identifying ads. Finally, 6 additional standards to be added to Defra's Sustainable Farming Incentive
    11 min read
  • POSTED BY JESSICA BURT |

    EC Draft Packaging Waste Regulation to have major impact on the food sector

    This proposal represents a seismic shift into defined recycling requirements, specific targets and mandatory standards across Europe by way of the use of a Regulation.  It is likely that even companies outside the EU market are likely to follow these requirements.  It is recommended companies affected should take a proactive approach engaging across their sector and via the use of strategic impact assessments. In this way businesses may best understand their packaging portfolios and be able to develop robust packaging strategies that will contribute to preparing to comply with the objectives of the draft regulation.
    7 min read
  • POSTED BY JESSICA BURT |

    Let them eat cake!

    Professor Susan Jebb, the Food Standards Agency chairwoman, made a speech stating Cake in the office should be viewed like passive smoking. Energy intake, our daily bread, or even cake, is essential for living; unlike smoking or passive smoking. Professor Jebb would have been discussing the need to be supportive of a healthier lifestyle. However, the reference to passive smoking does imply the need for legislative restrictions to seek to underpin this.
    5 min read
  • POSTED BY JESSICA BURT |

    10 years since 'Horsegate' - Are you complacent about Food Fraud?

    It is 10 years since the Horsemeat food fraud scandal that rocked the food sector. Great improvements have been made but don't be complacent. Food fraud could mean unsafe food, unfit for human consumption and/or food without proper traceability and safety checks, not of the nature, substance or quality demanded, either by the consumer or your contractual terms, entering into our food products with potentially criminal liability for directors who are unable to establish they took all due diligence and reasonable precautions to avoid committing offences under food legislation.
    4 min read
  • POSTED BY JESSICA BURT |

    Food & Agri Update Friday 20 Jan

    Food & Agri Update Friday 20 Jan - Chinese lunar new year. FSA's professor Susan Jebb likens bringing cake into the office to passive smoking, a headline grabbing comment but one that doesn't add up. The GCA annual survey is of vital importance. Latest GSCOP case against Lidl £2.6mn claim. 10 years since horsegate - have we progressed? ASA rulings re targeting appropriate audience. CMA blocks Cerelia acquiring Jus-Rol. Food Standards Agency annual report. Aged meat safety assessment by EFSA. Deposit Return Scheme and EU waste packaging proposal reviewed #FSA #ASA #defra #gca #packaging #gscop #cma #waste #obesity #tobacco #litigation #hfss
    19 min read
  • POSTED BY JESSICA BURT |

    Single Use Plastics Ban - What is covered?

    Draft regulations the Environmental Protection (Plastic Plates etc. and Polystyrene Containers etc.) (England) Regulations 2023 have been published to ban the supply of single-use plastic in England from October 2023. Key definitions and exclusions, including the meaning of packaging, are reviewed.
    3 min read
  • POSTED BY JESSICA BURT |

    Defra gives increased payments update at the Oxford Farming Conference

    At the Oxford Farming Conference on 5th January, Farming Minister, Mark Spencer, announced more money for farmers and landowners through both the Countryside Stewardship and the Sustainable Farming Incentive schemes.  He also confirmed an expanded range of actions under the schemes, which farmers could be paid for, would be published soon.
    4 min read

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