Directors Briefing Notes are published every two weeks and are a summary of the Member Briefings.

21 July 2008

Abolition of Obligatory Set-Aside Agreed in Principle

Set-aside within the EU has been abolished in principle but Defra is intent on penalising English growers through production restrictions.

Further information: G08-060

2008 / 2009 TASCC Codes Published

The new TASCC Codes for 2008 / 2009 have been finalised and appear on AIC's website.

Further information: G08-059

Avian Influenza Restrictions Lifted

The Avian Influenza Surveillance Zone in Oxfordshire and remaining disease control area restrictions were lifted by Defra at 00.01 on 8th July.

Further information: G08-061

"Food Matters - .....

..... Towards a Strategy for the 21st Century" is a Cabinet Office report to develop a UK food policy framework covering food and its impact on animal welfare, human health and environmental protection; of particular interest to members are the references to on-farm greenhouse gas emissions and the delays in the EU GM approval system.

Further information: G08-062

Biofuels - Gallagher Review

This review into the current science on biofuels contains a number of conclusions, including amending biofuel targets to allow for an animal increase of only 0.5% and making land use change a more integral criterion.

Further information: G08-063

Asynchronous GM Authorisations and Low Level Presence - Update

The EU Commission has put forward five different options in its attempt to produce a technical solution for the low level presence of non-EU approved GMOs in feed and food, as well as the associated issue of 'zero tolerance' for unauthorised GM material in the food chain.

Further information: F08-038