Every year the United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agriculture
Service, issues reports by USDA FAS Agricultural Attachés that are stationed
around the world. The reports cover a wide variety of topics, and some
include a write up on the status of food law and standards in the country
the Attaché is in. Below is an excerpt for the EU country report found at:
www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/attacherep/attache_lout.asp
<http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/attacherep/attache_lout.asp>
The title of this EU report is:
Jan 23 2001 European Union Country Report
Highlight: The exporter's guide to the European Union providing information
on labeling, packaging, additives, pesticides, certificates, GMO's, organic
and functional foods, wine, etc.
E20145
There is an explanation to note the difference between EU Regulation and
Directive, and for the list server I have included the explanation here from
the same URL as above:
SECTION 1. FOOD LAWS
The European Union (EU), formerly known as the European Economic Community
(EEC), was created by the Treaty of Rome on March 25, 1957, and after
several accessions comprises currently 15 Member countries : France,
Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland, Denmark, the
United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Austria, Sweden and Finland. Making
up the world’s largest multi-nation trading bloc. EU Member countries accept
the entire body of EU laws and obligations associated with the treaties and
agreements to which the EU is a party.
Originally created as a customs union, the EU slowly is becoming a single
market. Harmonizing legislation between the 15 Member States, however, is a
lengthy process, and by no means is the single market a fait accompli. It is
important to note that when EU-wide legislation is incomplete or absent, the
laws of Member States apply, often resulting in different rules in different
Member States. EU political structures include the permanent bureaucracy of
the Commission, the Council of Member State representatives, and the
European Parliament. All are involved in creating and passing legislation.
For more information on how the EU works, see the website of the European
Commission at:
www.europa.eu.int/index-en.htm
EU legislation is made up of Directives and Regulations –all translated into
the 11 official EU languages– which must be implemented at the Member State
level. Directives define the result that must be achieved but leave to each
Member State the choice of form and methods to transpose the directive into
national laws (usually within 2-3 years after adoption). Regulations are
binding in their entirety and automatically enter into force on a set date
in all Member States. Directives are more common than regulations.
Amendments to EU legislation are usually published in new and separate
Directives and Regulations, making it difficult to be sure of all possible
amendments when doing research.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Aug 23 2001 - 09:10:43 PDT