IN BRIEF

8 June 2001

IN BRIEF

&#8226 THE EU Commission has dropped its legal case against the Belgian government for late notification of its dioxin problems in 1999. A commission statement on Wednes-day confirmed the Belgian authorities had done everything necessary to prevent a repeat and there was no need to take the case further.

&#8226 EURO MPs should be given more say in reshaping the CAP, according to Risto Volanen, secretary general of COPA, the EU farmers body. Agriculture has become a battlefield between the conflicting forces of economics and ecology and for "food peace" to break out, the European Parlia-ment should have more involvement in agricultural decision-making, he suggests. Farm ministers currently make final decisions.

&#8226 BRUSSELS has adopted new rules controlling the use of government funds to help advertise agricultural products. State aid covering 50% of the costs is possible as long as the internal market is not infringed and consumers are not encouraged to buy domestic products ahead of imports.

&#8226 THE Irish government is to spend Ir£282m (£215m) on developing its food industry over the next five years. Of the investment, Ir£120m will go on capital investment aimed at improving the competitiveness of primary processors, Ir£83m will be spent on product innovations and Ir£48m is ear-marked for marketing and promotion.

&#8226 BEAUTY products could provide farmers with an unusual outlet for their crops if the fashion for natural ingredients continues. A conference organised by the UKs Alternative Crops Technology Interaction Network (ACTIN) this week discussed the potential for increasing the use of oils from sunflowers, oilseed rape and evening primrose in sun and hair care products. &#42