Food

Agribusiness lobbying in Brussels involves biotech, food, animal feed, agrofuels and pesticide producers targeting decision makers to weaken regulations or to get subsidies. You can find CEO's work on food and agriculture here or visit our specific page on the EU's food safety authority (EFSA).

European Commission expected to approve seven biofuels certification schemes without public scrutiny

18.07.2011

Brussels, 18 July 2011 – The European Commission is expected to tomorrow (19/7/11) release the names of seven voluntary certification schemes approved to certify biofuels according to the ‘sustainability criteria’ set out in the Renewable Energy Directive. This follows a lawsuit filed by environmental law organisation ClientEarth, Friends of the Earth Europe (FOEE), FERN and Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) against the Commission's refusal to provide access to information regarding the approval of such schemes.

EFSA

An open letter from CEO to the European Food Safety Authority

01.07.2011

With this open letter Corporate Europe Observatory reacts to a letter that EFSA executive director Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle wrote to CEO in reaction to our investigative report, “Exposed: conflicts of interest among EFSA’s experts on food additives”.

EFSA

Exposed: conflicts of interest among EFSA’s experts on food additives

15.06.2011

New research by Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) has found that 11 out of the 20 experts on the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) panel on food additives (ANS) have a conflict of interest, as defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Commission sued for lack of transparency

26.05.2011

Brussels, May 26, 2011 – The European Commission was sued today, accused of violating European transparency laws. Environmental law organisation ClientEarth, Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE), FERN and Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) filed the lawsuit following the Commission’s refusal to provide access to information in decisions relating to the sustainability of Europe’s biofuels policy [1].

Biotech lobby brochure launched at demo

02.05.2011

The first stop of the tour was the European Seeds Association (ESA) in Rue du Luxembourg, a lobby group representing the interests of large seed firms like Bayer, Dow, Monsanto, Pioneer and Syngenta. The biotech and pesticides corporations are represented via many lobby associations, including also EuropaBio, the European Crop Protection Association (ECPA), Croplife and ILSI (International Life Sciences Institute).

Food lobby bashes MEPs on labelling

17.04.2011

Once again, the issue of food labelling is on the table in the European Parliament, and is at the core of heated debate. EU Food Policy (issue 56 of 15 April 2011), reports that MEPs are furious about the food industry's lobbying attempts. Breaking all etiquette rules, leaflets were placed on MEPs desks urging them to vote agains certain amendments to the Food Information proposal. MEPs across the political spectrum have denounced the aggressive industry lobbying. The Environment Committee of the European Parliament is due to vote on the issue on Tuesday 19 April.

New cartoon exposes soy greenwash

30.03.2011

A new cartoon has been launched, exposing a new label for 'responsible' soy. Detective Pig investigates soy production in South America and finds out the truth behind this new label which is introduced on the European market this spring. It has been established by the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS), a voluntary certification scheme supported by agribusiness including Monsanto and Unilever, and a few NGOs including WWF.

"This is not an industry event"

18.03.2011

A luxurious venue, corporate propaganda in the corridors, co-optation of the co-organisers, lobbyists in the room, civil society hardly present and heavy-weight politicians on stage: welcome to Syngenta's 4th Forum for the Future of Agriculture.

Commission urged to overhaul EFSA rules

15.03.2011

Campaigners today called for a complete overhaul of the rules governing the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), following allegations that four members of EFSA's management board have direct links to the food industry, causing conflicts of interest [1].

Lobby watchdog Corporate Europe Observatory has today sent a letter to EU Health and Consumer Commissioner John Dalli urging him to take action after EFSA defended the conflicts of interest and said they fell within the rules.

Responsible soy - don't buy the lie

08.03.2011

Brussels/London/Amsterdam, Tuesday 8 March - Supermarkets across the EU are being urged to boycott products containing soy labelled as "responsible" ahead of the introduction of a new EU-wide labelling scheme. A coalition of environmental and civil society groups have written to supermarkets and food companies across Europe including Unilever, Sainsbury’s, Carrefour and AHOLD, highlighting the reasons for their opposition to the Roundtable on Responsible Soy's plans [1].

EFSA

Conflicts of interest EFSA board letter

04.03.2011

Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) last week highlighted in a report that at least four members of EFSA’s management board are employed by or otherwise linked with food industry lobby groups and other commercial interests, a situation that creates potential conflicts of interest.

EFSA accused of conflicts of interest

23.02.2011

Four board members at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have close links with the food industry, creating a potential conflict of interests, according to new research by Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) published today [1].

CEO warns that the links could compromise the independence of the agency which is responsible for assessing the safety of food in the European Union – including controversial genetically modified food and feed and pesticides.

Food

European Commission expected to approve seven biofuels certification schemes without public scrutiny

An open letter from CEO to the European Food Safety Authority

Exposed: conflicts of interest among EFSA’s experts on food additives

Commission sued for lack of transparency

Biotech lobby brochure launched at demo

Food lobby bashes MEPs on labelling

New cartoon exposes soy greenwash

"This is not an industry event"

Commission urged to overhaul EFSA rules

Responsible soy - don't buy the lie

Conflicts of interest EFSA board letter

EFSA accused of conflicts of interest

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