This Week in Agri-Food — Brussels (#25, 2026)
Major US-EU tariff agreement enters into force; GMO authorisations renewed; chemicals, customs and active substances rules amended; Council adopts olive oil decision.
June 28, 2026 to July 04, 2026
Major US-EU tariff agreement enters into force; GMO authorisations renewed; chemicals, customs and active substances rules amended; Council adopts olive oil decision.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 📅 This Week's Calendar in Brussels
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 🤝 EU Council
• 📝 EP Motions & Questions
• ✒️ EP Committee Work
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
This Week's Calendar in Brussels
- Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI): On July 06, the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Amending Council Directive 98/58/EC and Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the simplification and strengthening of food and feed safety requirements, and repealing Council Directives 82/711/EEC and 85/572/EEC; Amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 1829/2003, (EC) No 1831/2003, (EC) No 852/2004, (EC) No 853/2004, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1099/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 528/2012, (EU) 2017/625 as regards the simplification and strengthening of food and feed safety requirements; Chair’s announcements.
- Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI): On July 06, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Amending Council Directive 98/58/EC and Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the simplification and strengthening of food and feed safety requirements, and repealing Council Directives 82/711/EEC and 85/572/EEC; Amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 1829/2003, (EC) No 1831/2003, (EC) No 852/2004, (EC) No 853/2004, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1099/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 528/2012, (EU) 2017/625 as regards the simplification and strengthening of food and feed safety requirements; Chair’s announcements.
- Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI): On July 06, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Amending Decision (EU) 2015/1814 as regards ceasing the invalidation of allowances in the market stability reserve; Amending Decision (EU) 2015/1814 as regards the market stability reserve for the buildings, road transport and additional sector; Amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards the extension of its scope to downstream goods and anti-circumvention measures.
- Committee on International Trade (INTA): On July 06, the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade (INTA) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Chair’s announcements; Conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Interim Agreement on Trade between the European Union and the United Mexican States; Date of next meetings.
- Committee on Fisheries (PECH): On July 09, the European Parliament's Committee on Fisheries (PECH) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Chair’s announcements; Date of next meetings; *** End of electronic vote ***.
European Commission
Commission greenlights Portugal's ninth payment request under NextGenerationEU
On 1 July 2026, the European Commission confirmed Portugal's satisfactory completion of the 22 milestones and 29 targets for its ninth payment request, amounting to €2.32 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The funds are allocated to reforms and investments in education, business competitiveness, risk prevention, sustainable land use, waste management, and public administration digitalisation. The granting of funds follows approval by the Economic and Financial Committee, after which Portugal will have received €17.23 billion—78.67% of the plan’s total. All remaining milestones and targets must be achieved by August 2026, ahead of the Facility’s closure in late 2026.
Denmark becomes first Member State to complete NextGenerationEU plan
On 29 June 2026, the European Commission positively assessed Denmark's final payment of €359 million in grants under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, confirming 100% delivery of the national plan—€1.63 billion in total—preceding the August 2026 deadline. Denmark’s measures include decarbonisation of transport, residential energy renovations, and support for vocational education for the green transition. President Ursula von der Leyen underlined Denmark’s progress, and the assessment is now forwarded to the Economic and Financial Committee for final opinion before payment is released.
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Regulation (EU) 2026/1455 adjusts EU customs tariffs following new agreement with United States
Regulation (EU) 2026/1455, adopted 25 June 2026 and in force from 1 July 2026 to 31 December 2029, zeroes duties on numerous US industrial goods and opens tariff quotas for selected agricultural products. The regulation implements the 2025 EU-US Joint Statement on Reciprocal, Fair and Balanced Trade, and includes safeguard measures in case of market disturbances. The Commission will monitor trade flows and is empowered to suspend preferences if the US does not comply.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1421 extends approval periods for 19 active substances in plant protection products
On 30 June 2026, the Commission extended approval periods for 19 active substances, including lambda-cyhalothrin, deltamethrin, MCPA, and tebuconazole, under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009. The extensions—some for over two years—address ongoing delays in renewal assessments, attributing delays to factors beyond applicants’ control.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1406 updates sanitary survey requirements for bivalve molluscs areas
Adopted 26 June 2026, the regulation amends (EU) 2019/627 by refining when compulsory sanitary surveys are required for classification of production and relaying areas. A full survey is now only mandated before classifying new areas or if monitoring indicates persistent material change in established zones.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/908 revises controls for shelf-stable composite products
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/908, published 3 July 2026, updates Regulation (EU) 2021/630 to align private attestation requirements for composite products and expands the list of cereal products and processed foods exempted from official border controls.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1427 authorises enzymatically produced egg membrane hydrolysate as a novel food
On 3 July 2026, the Commission authorised Eggnovo SL to exclusively market egg membrane hydrolysate (enzymatically produced) in the EU for five years, amending Regulation (EU) 2017/2470. The product’s safety was confirmed by EFSA in 2025.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1550 updates import conditions for poultry and game bird products
This regulation modifies Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 following HPAI outbreaks in the United States, suspending entry of affected consignments from restricted US zones. Canada and Chile are re-authorised after updated epidemiological assessments.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1422 modernises proof-of-origin rules for imports
Regulation (EU) 2026/1422 amends Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 to enable greater use of electronic certificates of non-preferential origin, anticipating the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2026/1455 on US trade. It introduces stricter requirements to show direct shipment where relevant.
Council Decision (EU) 2026/1539: EU adopts position on IOC olive oil testing standards
Council Decision (EU) 2026/1539, adopted 22 June 2026, establishes the EU's position for the 123rd session of the International Olive Council regarding the adoption of revised methods for the organoleptic assessment (tasting) of virgin olive oil.
EU Council
Agriculture and Fisheries Council to present work programme and review protein plan
Ministers at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council (13 July 2026) will examine the Irish Presidency’s priorities, discuss the Commission’s livestock strategy, protein plan, trade issues, and women’s role in agriculture.
EP Motions & Questions
Motion for a resolution on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1417 on GMO maize NK603 × T25
On 1 July 2026, Sirpa Pietikäinen (ENVI, PPE) tabled a motion for a resolution concerning the Commission decision to renew authorisation for marketing products containing or produced from genetically modified maize NK603 × T25 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003.
Motion for a resolution on Commission Implementing Decision for GMO soybean MON 87705
Sirpa Pietikäinen (ENVI, PPE) tabled a motion objecting to the renewal of the authorisation for genetically modified soybean MON 87705 for food and feed uses in the EU, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003.
Motion for a resolution on Commission Implementing Decision for GMO maize DP202216 x NK603 x DAS-40278-9
A motion was presented on 1 July 2026 by Sirpa Pietikäinen (ENVI, PPE) challenging the draft decision to authorise the placing on the market of GMO maize DP202216 x NK603 x DAS-40278-9 and specific sub-combinations, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003.
EP Committee Work
AGRI Committee: Opinion on interim EU-Mexico trade agreement
On 29 June 2026, the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee (AGRI), rapporteur Veronika Vrecionová, issued its opinion on the proposal for a Council decision to conclude the Interim Agreement on Trade between the EU and Mexico, addressing agricultural trade provisions.
ENVI Committee considers objections and reports on GMOs and horizontal rules
On 2 July 2026, ENVI convened to vote on opinions and motions regarding 2028–2034 CAP support (rapporteurs: Seán Kelly for opinion, Norbert Lins as responsible), and to debate several objections on GMO authorisations and renewals, including soybean and maize products pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003. The meeting agenda also featured exchange with authors of a new JRC study on Ecodesign regulation.
What We're Reading This Week
- How fear of farmers is reshaping the next EU budget: Concerns over farmer protests are prompting EU officials to adjust budget priorities and agricultural spending plans.
- Early heatwaves are devastating French agriculture and leaving farmers helpless: Unseasonal heatwaves are severely damaging French crops, threatening food supply and the livelihoods of the country’s farmers.
