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Labelling is intended to help consumers make informed choices about the food and beverages they consume. In the EU, food information is primarily governed by Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. Yet alcoholic beverages remain partly exempt from standard labelling requirements, despite alcohol being linked to more than 200 health conditions and causing 656 deaths daily across the EU, which also has some of the world's highest consumption levels, with 77 % of adults consuming alcohol. Alcohol is also a major ...

This pre-Commission initiative briefing explores the proposed European product act, a policy initiative announced by the European Commission with the aim of overhauling the legal framework regarding the free movement of goods in the EU. The initiative will address certain problems associated with the rise of 'e-commerce', i.e. low-value items ordered online from third countries. The briefing looks at the specific legal instruments involved, and anticipates policy solutions which the Commission might ...

During the April 2026 plenary session, the European Parliament is expected to vote on its mandate for negotiations with the Council regarding the proposal for a regulation to simplify rules for chemicals, cosmetics and fertilisers, also known as the chemicals omnibus (Omnibus VI).

Organic production in the EU is governed by Regulation (EU) 2018/848. Following the Court of Justice's judgment of 4 October 2024 in Case C 240/23 Herbaria Kräuterparadies II, which stated that imported products recognised under equivalence arrangements cannot use the EU organic logo, the Commission has proposed adjustments to improve clarity for consumers and prevent trade disruptions. The proposal would revise the labelling rules for imports from equivalent third countries, allowing the EU organic ...

The impact assessment (IA) underpins the European Commission's proposal to review the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), which aims to enhance the implementation of the EU sustainable finance framework with simpler rules, lower administrative burden and better enforcement. The IA sufficiently explains the need for the revision of the SFDR, drawing on different data sources such as the evaluation and stakeholder consultation. While the problem definition defines and explains the problems ...

On 8 December 2025, the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on the 2023 Commission proposal for a regulation on the production and marketing of forest reproductive material (FRM). The new regulation would replace the current FRM Council Directive and widen its scope to include not only FRM for forestry purposes but also the FRM for conservation of forest genetic resources. The proposal would introduce a requirement for the basic material harvested for FRM production ...

In February 2026, two and a half years after the European Commission's proposal, trilogues started on a new regulation on the production and marketing of plant reproductive material (PRM). The proposal, put forward on 5 July 2023, would replace 10 of the 12 PRM directives that currently lay down the rules for seeds, tubers, cuttings, seedlings and young plants. It would introduce sustainability requirements for registering new varieties of agricultural plants, vegetables and fruits intended for professional ...

Food contact materials (FCMs) include all materials that come into physical contact with food during its production, processing, packaging and storage. They contain thousands of chemicals, some of which can migrate into food, especially at high temperatures, during long contact times or with certain food types. Scientific evidence shows that such migration is common and may contribute to human exposure to hazardous substances, including endocrine disruptors, carcinogens and reproductive toxicants ...

There has been a significant surge in the number of virtual private networks (VPNs) used to bypass online age verification methods in countries where these have been put in place by law. Protection of children online is high on the political agenda, and new legislative frameworks are being implemented that require a minimum age to access certain online products and services. The European Union's Digital Services Act has introduced recommended guidelines for age assurance, which apply to online intermediaries ...

Influencer marketing has become a significant part of the digital economy. Influencers allow brands to reach highly targeted audiences, and their endorsements are often perceived as more authentic than direct advertising. Some consumer groups – such as younger consumers and those with lower financial literacy, lower income, or consumers who follow trends closely – are particularly receptive to this type of marketing. The fast growth of this sector has exposed several problematic practices and regulatory ...