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GREEN INSIGHT INTO EU FOOD POLICY

• Public health- The Parliament says no to herbicides with bentazone
• Glyphosate: the European Court of Justice rules for transparency on access to information on chemicals
• GMO cultivation, not here not anywhere

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

• Join the after CAP debate by ARC2020 

JOIN THE FOOD REVOLUTION: THE STORY OF THE MONTH

• Every month food actors who joined the 'Join the Food Revolution' network share their story, showing the way to take back control over your plate – 

WHAT'S ON THE PLATE?

• Upcoming Events

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GREEN INSIGHT INTO EU FOOD POLICY

Public health- The Parliament says no to herbicides with bentazone

On 23d November, the European Parliament rejected the renewal of the authorization of bentazone.

The European Commission intends to renew for 15 years this substance, an active ingredient used in several herbicides, despite the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the recommendations of the European Ombudsman. In a non-binding resolution, the Parliament opposed this initiative from the Commission.

Read our press release (in FR)

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Glyphosate : the European Court of Justice rules for transparency on access to information on chemicals

For the European Court of Justice, documents relating to the authorization of pesticides are of superior public interest.

In December 2010, NGOs Stichting Greenpeace Nederland and Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe) asked the European Commission, to access documents on the first authorization to market glyphosate dating from 2001. But, with the argument to protect intellectual property rights, the Commission had sent only some of the documents on that active substance of the best-selling herbicide in the world. The associations then applied to the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) for full access to the documents.

Read our press release (in FR and ES)

Read press release of PAN Europe

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GMO cultivation, not here not anywhere

The European Commission should submit soon to the Standing Committee on plants, animals, food and feed three draft regulations aimed at the renewal of the authorisation for cultivation in the EU of three GM maize varieties. The Standing Committee, composed of experts from Member states, can validate or block the EU Commission’s proposal if they reach a qualified majority during the vote. Since last year the situation has changed, as the so-called “opt-out” regulation entered into force. It allows individual Member states to ban the cultivation of a GM plant on its territory even if it is approved at the EU level. But if you believe GMOs should not be grown, then you should make sure they are not grown across the whole EU. Environmental problems caused by GM crops won’t stop at the borders!

Read more

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT 

Join the after CAP debate by ARC2020

An old friend - CAP, the Common Agricultural Policy - may be about to retire. Well, the writing on the walls of those corridors of power in Brussels and beyond suggest so anyway.

Consider the context: massive cuts in the agriculture and rural administration of the Commission; the lowest prioritisation in the Juncker cabinet agenda; a mere communication by Commissioner Hogan rather than the usual mid-term review; talk of a move of CAP money to external security and migration policy; no momentum among the member state's agriculture ministers to work on any short term improvement and adjustment to a radically changing market and policy situation any more.

In these uncommon times, ARC2020 has started the third series of its debates involving different stakeholders from various sides. The first two debates focused on livestock and the milkcrisis. This third session now invites to give contributions and assessment from their own perspective on the CAP and its uncertain future.

Connect with ARC2020 in the comment section of each contribution, on Facebook and on Twitter - using the #AfterCAP hashtag. If you would like to become a contributor yourself or work for an organisation that would like to do so, get in touch with ARC2020 via email.

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JOIN THE FOOD REVOLUTION: STORY OF THE MONTH

The story of the month is for us all!

We now have many countries represented on the platform and you certainly have potential creative partners hidding there. So, take a look at the map of members, get in touch with people and get involved in projects that are in your regions or just get inspired by ideas taking place across your borders to make your own!

You are the revolutionary who can make the change!

Want to report on an idea or person in the platform that you got in touch with to get inspired for you own project or who helped you get further involved? Contact us here! We will be glad to hear about your story!

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WHAT'S ON THE PLATE?

1/12: Lunchtime Debate on the use of Pesticides in Ecological Focus Areas, organised by PAN Europe, in the European Parliament. Read the program and register for the event here.

5/12: World Soil Day: to take action follow @FoodRevEU and #WorldSoilDay on social media that day!

7/12: Conference Access to land for farmers in the EU, European Parliament, Brussels. 

8/12: Conference The health scandal behind the use of pesticides in agriculture, European Parliament, Brussels.