Summary of newspaper of the previous day –15.3.2011

EC allowed duty-free imports of sugar

Since this week sugar producers in the EU member states have been able to ask for an export licence for sugar exempt quotas. Thanks to this possibility, sugar supply should improve during the current economic year. Besides this, the EU has opened an import contingent for 300 000 tonnes of sugar from the world market. From the beginning of April to the September end, this kind of goods can be imported duty-free.

Evaluation of safety of caramels (food dyes)

The Panel on food additives and nutrient sources added to food (ANS) of the European Food Safety Euthority (EFSA) has evaluated safety of a group of caramels (dyes approved for use in foods in the European Union). It is dealt with caramel E150a, caustic sulphite caramel E150b, ammoniacal caramel E150c and ammoniac - sulphite caramel E150d.

Brussels consider ban of plastic bags disposable

Plastic bags disposable could be forbidden in the European Union in the future. The European Commission stated on Tuesday that it is going to deal seriously with “an explosion” in their production and use. It will consider also their all-European ban. “The production and use of plastic bags disposable increased intensely”, an Euro-commissioner for Environment affairs Janez Potočnik declared at Monday press conference in Brussels. According to him it is seen in the nature and in seas. The situation he feels as unmaintainable in the long term.

Agricultural Union: Czech Republic is not self-sufficient in milk production

The Czech Republic is no longer self-sufficient in milk production. The milk production in count on person achieved 238 liters last year, nevertheless, an average consumption is roughly by 12 liters higher. It results from data provided to ČTK by the Agricultural Union of the CR. According to estimations made by the Union, the Czech Republic will not meet a national quota for milk production in height 2.83 billion liters almost from ten percents in the current quota year which lasts from the beginning of last year´s April to the end of this year´s March. The quotas are not met by most countries of the European Union.