Brussels in Brief Newsletter

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24 March 2025

Welcome to the latest edition of Brussels in Brief. The BAB team is here, we are in Brussels and we want to work on behalf of you and your members. You can find out more on what is happening in Europe at our website - BAB (britishagriculturebureau.co.uk).

Foot & Mouth disease in Hungary and Slovakia

Slovakian authorities have confirmed three outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in the south of the country. All farms are close to the Hungarian border where an outbreak was detected at the start of March.

In Hungary, the strain is reported as serotype O, with a sequence showing the highest similarity with a strain isolated in Pakistan. This is a different strain to that found in Germany in January, which was identified as serotype O from the Eastern Turkey/Northern Iran region. Read more here.

Avian influenza overview December 2024 – March 2025

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EFSA has published its avian influenza overview for December 2024 – March 2025. Between December 2024 and March 2025, 743 (HPAI) A(H5) detections were reported in domestic and wild birds (239 and 504 respectively) across 31 European countries. Limited secondary spread was observed, and outdoor poultry access remained an important risk factor at the interface between wild and domestic birds. For the first time since spring 2024, several HPAI virus detections were reported in domestic cats and wild carnivores. In the USA, the number of dairy cattle farms affected rose to almost 1,000 in 17 States, and a different HPAI A(H5N1) virus genotype (D1.1) was reported in this species. The risk of infection with the avian A(H5) influenza viruses of remains low for the general public. The risk of infection remains low-to-moderate for those occupationally or exposed to infected animals or contaminated environments.

EU Member States agree mandate on new genomic techniques

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On Friday 14 March 2025, Member States' representatives (Coreper) endorsed the Council's negotiating mandate on the regulation on plants obtained by new genomic techniques (NGTs) and their food and feed. Details here - EU Member States agree mandate on new genomic techniques – British Agriculture Bureau. Trilogues are expected to start in April.

Romanian Court overturns derogations on neonics

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A Romanian court last week suspended government approvals for three banned neonicotinoid pesticides, Cruiser 350 FS, Nuprid AL 600 FS and Picus 600 FS, used for maize and sunflower seed treatments. The ruling follows a lawsuit by beekeepers’ federation Romapis and Eco Ruralis which challenged emergency authorisations issued in December despite a Court of Justice of the EU ruling that such derogations are illegal.

Flufenacet given 18 month grace period

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The Phytopharmaceuticals SCoPAFF committee has accepted to not renew the authorisation for the herbicide flufenacet as proposed by the Commission. The Commission's proposal was suggested a 12 month grace period, but a majority of Member States requested 18 months, which was granted. The non-renewal should probably be published in the official journal in May, then there is a 20 day delay for entry into force. This means that the 18 months grace period would concretely start in July, meaning the EU and Northern Ireland could use flufenacet for two more seasons. The hope is that in the meanwhile, the potential alternatives such as bixlozone and cinmethylin would be authorised. Flufenacet is still authorised in Great Britain and there are no plans to withdraw it. Its approval expires on 31 October 2027.

Russian fertilisers tariffs accepted

Member States have decided to accept the Commission’s proposal to levy additional duties Russian and Belarusian fertilisers and food despite concerns expressed by Copa about the inflationary impact on input costs. Final agreement is subject to negotiation with the European Parliament, but as things stand the proposed tariffs are on track to start to be applied from 1 July 2025. See more here.

EU to delay introduction of first wave of US retaliatory tariffs

Last week EU Trade Commissioner said that the introduction of retaliatory tariffs on US products announced on 12 March and due to be applied from 1 April would be delayed until 13 April. The reason given was to allow more time to discuss and find solutions with the US, but it’s clear that strong criticism by several Member States, including France and Ireland, concerned by Trump’s threats to impose 2005 tariffs on EU wine and spirits was influential, as well as waiting to see the shape and form of global US retaliatory tariffs due to be unveiled on 2 April.

Aid schemes to compensate farmers for extreme weather

The Commission has approved the allocation of €98.6 million from the agricultural reserve to directly support farmers in Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia and Hungary who have been impacted by exceptional adverse climatic events and natural disasters since spring 2024. The Commission will distribute €68 million to Spain, €16.2 million to Hungary, €6.7 million to Croatia, €4.2 million to Latvia and €3.5 million to Cyprus. These can be complemented by up to 200% of national funds.

The national authorities must distribute this aid by 30 September 2025 and ensure that farmers are the ultimate beneficiaries.

EU-UK Parliamentary Assembly

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The fifth meeting of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (PPA) took place in Brussels on 17-18 March 2025. The PPA was joined by EU Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Minister for the Constitution and European Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, to discuss the state of play within the PPA. The PPA discussed the future of foreign and security policy cooperation, on trade, customs and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and on youth opportunities. There were also informal break-out group discussions on Artificial Intelligence and data protection, climate and energy cooperation and regulatory cooperation in financial services.