Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-III§148 |
European Union |
2017 |
Measures |
Quarantine requirements |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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The new Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against plant pests extends the definition of pests to include non-parasitic plants that could have a severe economic, social, or environmental impact within the EU. It also lists pests as being in the category of quarantine pests or quality pests. Quarantine pests are those that pose the greatest danger for the EU and are to be eradicated and/or protected zones created to prevent their spreading outside areas where they are endemic.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-III§153 |
European Union |
2017 |
Measures |
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Agriculture |
Relevant information
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The procedure for approving genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has not changed. An application for approval for use of a GMO for food, feed, cultivation, or release on the market for other purposes (e.g. cut flowers) must be made to the competent authority in a member State. The EFSA, in collaboration with the member States' scientific bodies, conducts a risk assessment and delivers an opinion. On the basis of the opinion, the Commission prepares draft legislation to grant or refuse authorization. Directive (EU) 2015/412 [143] gives the member States more flexibility to restrict or prohibit cultivation of a GMO in their territory either during the authorization procedure, by demanding to exclude their territory from the geographical scope of the application, or, after authorization has been granted, by adopting measures that prohibit or restrict cultivation of specific GMOs. The Commission has also proposed a review of the decision-making process on GMOs. [144]
[143] Directive (EU) 2015/412 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2015 amending Directive 2001/18/EC as regards the possibility for the member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs in their territory.
[144] Commission Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No. 1829/2003 as regards the possibility for the member States to restrict or prohibit the use of genetically modified food and feed on their territory, COM(2015) 177 Final, 22 April 2015.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-III§154 |
European Union |
2017 |
Measures |
Other environmental requirements |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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As at end-2016, one GMO is approved for cultivation (with ongoing procedures for renewal of authorization) and 72 for food and feed uses. In addition, 3 applications for cultivation and 47 for food and feed uses were pending. There are also 5 GMO flowers approved for sale in the EU.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-III§161 |
European Union |
2017 |
Measures |
Other environmental requirements |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) allows food and feed authorities of the member States and the Commission to exchange information about measures taken in response to direct and indirect risks to human health from food, and human and animal health and the environment from feed. Member States notify risks detected in products already on the market (market notifications) and when products are refused entry into the EU (border rejections).
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-III§164 |
European Union |
2017 |
Measures |
Technical regulation or specifications |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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During this period, WTO Members used the SPS Committee to raise two new specific trade concerns about measures taken in the EU or a member State [155] and referred to eight concerns that had been raised earlier. [156] The EU has also used the Committee to raise its concerns in nine cases.
[155] EU proposal to amend Regulation (EC) No. 1829/2003 to allow EU member States to restrict or prohibit the use of genetically modified food and feed (ID 396), EU restrictions on exports of pork from the State of Santa Catarina (ID 407).
[156] Agricultural biotechnology approval process (ID 110), France's ban on Bisphenol A (BPA) (ID 346), EU phytosanitary measures on citrus black spot (ID 356), EU ban on mangoes and certain vegetables from India (ID 374), EU withdrawal of equivalence for processed organic products (ID 378), EU revised proposal for categorization of compounds as endocrine disruptors (ID 382), EU proposal to amend regulation (EC) No. 1829/2003 to allow EU member States to restrict or prohibit the use of genetically modified food and feed (ID 396), and EU restrictions on exports of pork from the State of Santa Catarina (ID 407).
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-III§166 |
European Union |
2017 |
Measures |
Grants and direct payments |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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The two largest areas of expenditure out of the EU budget in 2013 and 2014 were agriculture and structural operations, comprising the European Agriculture Guarantee Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and the Cohesion Fund. Another notable area of expenditure is research. The structural funds comprise the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). ERDF resources focus on the co-financing of productive investment leading to job creation and maintenance and investment in infrastructure. The ESF supports programmes in education and job market improvement, and the Cohesion Fund covers member States whose gross national income per inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU average, and, inter alia, funds projects in the field of transport and environmental infrastructure.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-III§167 |
European Union |
2017 |
Measures |
Grants and direct payments |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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The overall goal of the Cohesion policy, the EU's key investment policy, is to support job creation, business competitiveness, economic growth and sustainable development in all regions. The policy is put in place for a seven-year period, currently 2014-2020. The EU's intervention regarding the Cohesion policy is being carried out via the ERDF, the ESF and the Cohesion Fund. The budget for the current 2014-2020 period is estimated to amount to €346 billion, or one third of the EU budget, according to the latest notification. Additional funding from the member States will bring the total amount spent to €477 billion. Outlays under the ERDF, the Cohesion Fund and the ESF amounted to €56.8 billion in 2013 and €52.8 billion in 2014.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-III§171 |
European Union |
2017 |
Measures |
Grants and direct payments |
All products/economic activities |
Relevant information
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The current General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) will remain in force until 31 December 2020, and authorizes aid in favour of: (...) environmental protection; (...)
[3.170. (...) The GBER applies to all sectors of the economy with some exceptions. Sectoral restrictions are set out in Article 1, paragraphs 3-5 of the Regulation, and include specific activities in the fishery and aquaculture sector, in the primary production of agricultural products, the coal sector, the steel sector, shipbuilding, and the synthetic fibres sector.]
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-III§179 |
European Union |
2017 |
Measures |
Grants and direct payments |
Not specified |
Relevant information
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[Context:
3.178. On 19 May 2016, the Commission published a new guidance document on the notion of state aid, the so-called "Notice on the notion of state aid". This Notice is the last part of the Commission's SAM initiative and is designed to help member States and public authorities to draw up funding in ways which do not distort competition. (...)]
For example, Section 7 of the Notice contains specific clarification on state measures concerning infrastructure. Section 2.6 discusses culture and heritage conservation, including nature conservation. In the domain of tax measures, Section 5.4.4 elaborates, inter alia, on when a tax ruling gives a company or a group of companies a selective advantage (Box 3.3).
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Keywords
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Natural resources
Conservation
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-III§180 |
European Union |
2017 |
Measures |
Grants and direct payments |
Not specified |
Relevant information
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In 2014, €99 billion were provided for non-crisis state aid (excluding transport), a 45% increase over spending in 2013 (Table 3.15). The biggest categories were: environmental protection, including energy saving which registered an almost three-fold increase over 2013 and accounted for more than 40% of total spending [173]; (...)
[173] The increase of renewable energy support schemes (RES) in the reporting stems, among others, from the increased awareness by member States of the state aid nature of subsidies to RES following the adoption of the 2014 Energy and Environmental Aid Guidelines. Indeed, 2014 shows an increase of the reported state aid on environmental protection and energy savings of about €28.5 billion at EU level.
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Keywords
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Renewable
Energy
Environment
Conservation
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