Europe

Glyphosate in the EU: „The commission is tricking”

Europe Europe

Scandinavia is gaining strength in natural personal care

Europe Europe

On 15-16 November the Natural Products Scandinavia is taking place in Malmö Mässan, Sweden. The visitor will see innovations from 400 leading suppliers, ranging from the latest certified health products, to natural and sustainable personal-care cosmetics.

Review: discussion on EU Organic Regulation

Europe Europe

At a panel discussion on the new EU organic regulation held in Berlin, members of parliament and spokespersons from companies and agriculture debated with representatives from German and European agencies.

TRACES: electronic certification system now compulsory

Europe Europe

The new electronic certification system called TRACES (Trade Control & Export System), which has been operated in the EU since April 2017, is now compulsory.

ISO 16128 guidelines for cosmetics

Europe Europe

The ISO guidelines for natural and organic cosmetics do not take consumers interests at heart, states the association NATRUE.

Growing number of EU governments oppose re-approval of glyphosate

Europe Europe

The political and public opposition to glyphosate is growing in Europe. Yesterday representatives of governments have again rejected the Commission’s proposal for a ten year renewal of the licence for glyphosate. A final vote has been postponed to November.

International Green Week 2018 in Berlin

Europe Europe

From 19th until 28th January 2018, the International Green Week opens its doors to professionals and the public audience for the 83^rd time. The Green Week Berlin is one of the world’s largest fairs for nutrition, agriculture and horticulture.

Glyphosate - ban in Europe?

Europe Europe

The EU Parliament yesterday voted by a large majority for an expiry of the approval of the herbicide glyphosate by 2022. Parliamentarians thus clearly opposed the Commission's proposal for a ten-year extension.

2017 Sustainable Beauty Award Finalists Announced

Europe Europe

The finalists for the 2017 Sustainable Beauty Awards have been announced by Ecovia Intelligence. Over 100 international entries were received this year, from operators in various sectors of the beauty industry.

Glyphosate: EU environmental committee votes against the pesticide’s re-authorization

Europe Europe

With 39 yes-votes, the European Parliament’s environmental committee has voted against an extension of the glyphosate-authorization. According to a press release by Martin Häusling, 9 members casted no-votes and 10 abstained from voting over the re-authorization.

Monsanto in trouble

Europe Europe

Monsanto is in trouble for many reasons. Among others, the authorization of Monsanto’s flagship Roundup and its ingredient glyphosate is expiring in the EU by the end of this year. More and more weeds are resistant to Roundup. Monsanto’s ‘solution’ to this problem, another very toxic herbicide Dicamba, turns out to be a complete failure. The Monsanto Tribunal last fall in The Hague and court cases have been exposing the way Monsanto works, and this helps to inspire others to show the true cost of Monsanto’s business. Films and books were released too.

IFOAM EU: 5th Organic Processing Conference in January 2018

Europe Europe

IFOAM EU invites interested parties to their 5th Organic Processing Conference „Improving Organic: Making it happen - Digital opportunities for organic processors“ taking place on 16-17 January 2018 in Zwolle, The Netherlands.

Monsanto Tribunal Documentation: “Roundup, the trial" on Arte tv

Europe Europe

On Tuesday evening, the new documentary movie „Le Roundup face à ses juges” by French movie maker and book author Marie-Monique Robin (The World According to Monsanto, 2008) has been screened on Arte in French and German (Roundup, der Prozess).

Groundbreaking research results: glyphosate persists in soil

Europe Europe

A new research study shows that 45% of Europe’s top soil contains glyphosate residues. Glyphosate persists in soils affecting not only soil fertility and crop quality, but also human and environmental health.

MEPs call on the EU Commission to phase out glyphosate by 2020

Europe Europe

On 16 October a cross-party group of MEPs demanded a phase-out of glyphosate by December 2020. A ban on non-professional use of the herbicide and use in public parks or playgrounds they require by the end of this year.

Ecover and Method acquired by S.C Johnson

Europe Europe

The US corporation SC Johnson & sons, one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products, signed an agreement to acquire the biobased cleaning products companies Ecover and Method.

Continuing success of international natural cosmetics markets

Europe Europe

Not only in Germany but on the international stage too the trend in the natural and organic cosmetics industry continues to be very positive development. In the leading market in Europe, the German market, demand shows no sign of slowing. According to Naturkosmetik Verlag, about nine million consumers buy natural cosmetics several times a year and their purchasing behaviour caused turnover in the first half of this year to grow by around two percent.  The “Green & Clean” trend is to be seen everywhere in neighbouring countries with robust market development and also internationally. However, manufacturers and the trade are having to confront a number of challenges.

(Photo: Karin Heinze)

EU Parliament: hearing on “the Monsanto papers and glyphosate”

Europe Europe

Yesterday, the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) and the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) held a public hearing in the European Parliament concerning “the Monsanto papers and glyphosate”. As Monsanto recently refused to attend the public hearing, the panels took place without the agrochemical corporation.

EU: Glyphosate license expiring

Europe Europe

Soon the EU member states will have to cast their vote for the final decision on the glyphosate license. On the 11th of October there will be an official hearing in the EU Parliament.

Plagiarism? EU voting on re-authorization of glyphosate deferred

Europe Europe

Did the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) copy a report by Monsanto? Back in September, the Greens already expressed this suspicion. Now, the voting over the re-authorization of glyphosate has been postponed.

European Parliament: objection against criteria for hormone-altering chemicals

Europe Europe

On Wednesday, the European Parliament has entered an objection against the criteria for defining hormone-altering agents (endocrine disruptors) proposed by the European Commission. Thus, the delegates now have been following an objection proposed by the Greens/EFA group.

France: resolute drawback from glyphosate

Europe Europe

By the end of this end year, the member states of the EU will vote on the future of the pesticide glyphosate. Last week, France officially announced that it will vote against the reauthorisation of glyphosate.

US / EU: Soilless cultivation - organic or not?

Europe Europe

The discussion basically concerns the possibility to grow organic products not in the soil but in substrates. In the USA this has not been regulated until now. It is not explicitly forbidden. And in the regulatory void hydroponic companies were certified organic. 

EU Parliament: group presidents deny access for Monsanto lobbyists

Europe Europe

Yesterday, the European Parliament’s leaders decided to ban Monsanto lobbyists and other representatives of the group until further notice.

New genetic engineering techniques need to be regulated as GMOs

Europe Europe

On September 28, the European Commission organises a stakeholders discussion on new genetic engineering techniques and their legal status at the High Level Conference Modern Biotechnologies in Agriculture. The decision on how to regulate these new GMOs will have important consequences on the whole food production chain and on the organic sector in particular.