EU to tighten product safety – EUbusiness Week newsletter 605 – EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 605 top stories: EU-US trade deal to boost growth, jobs; Brussels calls for DNA tests across EU on beef products; Finance trade tax applicable globally: Brussels; EU clears use of pigs, chicken in fish feed; EU urges ArcelorMittal to suspend closures; India hopes to seal EU free trade deal by April

This Week’s Top Stories

1. EU-US trade deal to boost growth, jobs
2. Brussels calls for DNA tests across EU on beef products
3. Finance trade tax applicable globally: Brussels
4. EU clears use of pigs, chicken in fish feed
5. EU urges ArcelorMittal to suspend closures
6. India hopes to seal EU free trade deal by April

Publisher’s Note

As consumers worry about whether they can trust what they eat, they will no doubt welcome new rules to improve the safety of other consumer products unveiled by the Commission this week, including the stepping-up of market surveillance of non-food products imported from 3rd countries.

A key aim of improving the coordination of product safety checks is to eliminate unfair competition from rogue and criminal operators, says the Commission, and to provide businesses with a level playing field to operate in. Clear and consistent rules across the Single Market should benefit not only consumers, but also allow businesses to reap the full economic benefit of the Single Market.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU-US trade deal to boost growth, jobs

The EU and the United States are to negotiate the biggest free trade agreement ever, a global “game-changer,” boosting growth and providing much-needed jobs, Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso said on Wednesday.
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US and EU feel the love on Valentine’s Day

2. Brussels calls for DNA tests across EU on beef products

The Commission on Wednesday said it would call on all EU Member States to carry out DNA tests on beef products to check the presence of horse meat.
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‘Too early’ to impose meat labelling

3. Finance trade tax applicable globally: Brussels

The financial transactions tax to be adopted by 11 EU states should raise EUR 30-35 bn each year but the levy will apply worldwide, the Commission said on Thursday, sparking a sharp reaction from opponents led by Britain.
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EU must press ahead with bank oversight reforms: report

4. EU clears use of pigs, chicken in fish feed

The European Union is ending a ban on using fish meal made from ground-up pigs or chickens introduced at the height of the ‘Mad Cow’ food scare, just as it fights the latest scandal over horsemeat being passed off as beef.
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5. EU urges ArcelorMittal to suspend closures

The Commission asked ArcelorMittal to suspend the closure of sites in Europe pending the launch of a pan-Europe plan to save the industry — but the global steel giant declined.
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6. India hopes to seal EU free trade deal by April

India expects to sign a “balanced and ambitious” free trade agreement with the European Union by April, an official statement said on Thursday.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Bulgaria: Bulgaria’s parliament has amended parts of a new law offering citizenship to foreign investors, watering down some of the permanent residency requirements after the president vetoed them.
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Europol, Spanish police bust global cybercrime ring
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Cyprus: Cyprus expects to receive the same solidarity from its EU partners as that shown to Greece in bailout talks, the country’s finance minister said in a German newspaper interview on Tuesday.
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EU agrees historic cut to budget after tough talks
EU ‘fears’ Berlusconi’s return to power: Monti
Council …

Commission Watch

Deficits: Member States struggling to bring their public deficits back to within EU limits may win more time to meet the target if economic growth slows, Economic Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said on Wednesday.
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EU resumes EUR 250m aid package to Mali
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Parliament Watch

Budget: EU leaders may think they have settled the bloc’s 2014-20 budget but it is the European Parliament, angry at the first ever cut, that now has the final say and early signs point to tough talks ahead.
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Bulgaria distances itself from Hamas delegation visit
External Parliamentary Activities Week.

EU diary

18 Feb, Foreign Affairs Council
18-19 Feb, Competitiveness Council
22 Feb, Transport, Telecommunications & Energy Council
22 Feb, 2013 European Economic Forecast
23 Feb, EU-Ukraine Summit
25-26 Feb, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary