This Week in Agri-Food — Brussels (#29, 2026)
Commission sets uniform rules for poultry and pig farms; Multiple new geographical indications registered; Adjustments to maximum residue levels for plant protection products; Emergency animal disease measures in Romania and Bulgaria.
October 12, 2026 to October 18, 2026
Commission sets uniform rules for poultry and pig farms; Multiple new geographical indications registered; Adjustments to maximum residue levels for plant protection products; Emergency animal disease measures in Romania and Bulgaria.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 📅 This Week's Calendar in Brussels
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 🤝 EU Council
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
This Week's Calendar in Brussels
- Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI): On October 19, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Chair’s announcements; Date of next meetings; *** End of electronic vote ***.
European Commission
Commissioners Launch Cross-Regional Dialogue on Space Technologies in Disaster Risk Management
On 13 October 2026, Commissioners Andrius Kubilius (Defence and Space) and Hadja Lahbib (Preparedness and Crisis Management) convened the inaugural cross-regional dialogue 'From Space to Grassroots: Strengthening Community Resilience to Natural Hazards through Space Technologies'. The event, marking the International Day for Disaster Risk Management, included representatives from Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa, as well as UN Special Representative Kamal Kishore and Irish Minister Thomas Byrne. Discussions focused on improving early warning systems, sharing satellite data, and building local response capacity. The outcome document, 'Compass on Space and Disaster Risk Management,' calls for converting satellite data into actionable information. The initiative leverages Copernicus, Galileo, GOVSATCOM, and IRIS², alongside early warning tools such as the European Flood Awareness System.
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Commission Sets Uniform Conditions for Poultry and Pig Rearing
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2260 of 8 October 2026 establishes uniform operating rules for rearing poultry and pigs, under Directive 2010/75/EU. The rules address emissions, environmental performance, and animal welfare, with differentiated requirements based on farm size and capacity. Member States must validate alternative techniques and ensure documentation is publicly available. The decision specifies transition periods depending on livestock unit thresholds.
Adjustments to Maximum Residue Levels for Plant Protection Products
Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/2289 of 15 October 2026 amends Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 regarding maximum residue levels (MRLs) for acequinocyl, deltamethrin, dodine, maleic hydrazide, pinoxaden, and prothioconazole in or on certain products. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assessments supported these modifications. Confirmatory data for pinoxaden resolved previous data gaps for livestock commodities, leading to formal confirmation of MRLs.
Residue Levels for Difenoconazole Updated in Food and Feed Products
Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/2299 of 15 October 2026 revises Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, setting new maximum residue levels for difenoconazole across various plant and animal products. The update reflects EFSA’s Article 12 MRL review and addresses import tolerances for additional crops, ensuring alignment with Codex Alimentarius standards and recent agricultural data.
Emergency Measures Against Sheep Pox and Goat Pox in Romania
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2321 of 14 October 2026 amends Decision (EU) 2026/1108, expanding emergency zones and duration of restrictions in Romania following new outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox. Thirty additional outbreaks across ten counties were reported, prompting updates to protection, surveillance, and restricted zones as per Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.
Recognition of Sustainable Biomaterials Scheme for Biofuels and Renewable Fuels
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2316 of 15 October 2026 recognises the 'Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) EU RED' voluntary scheme for demonstrating compliance with sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions criteria under Directive (EU) 2018/2001. The scheme covers biofuels, bioliquids, biomass fuels, renewable fuels of non-biological origin, and recycled carbon fuels, and replaces Decision (EU) 2022/607.
Registration of New Geographical Indications for Agricultural Products
Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) 2026/2301, 2026/2290, 2026/2302, 2026/2293, and 2026/2307, all adopted on 8 October 2026, register the following geographical indications: Café Antigua (PGI, Guatemala), Banski kestenov med (PDO, Croatia), Miel des Landes (PGI, France), Capocollo di Martina Franca (PGI, Italy), and Čepinski kupus (PDO, Croatia). These entries follow completion of the opposition procedure under Regulation (EU) 2024/1143.
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Update to List of Third Countries Authorised for Entry of Certain Food Products
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2228 of 14 October 2026 amends Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405, updating the list of third countries and regions authorised for entry of consignments of animals and goods intended for human consumption, in line with Regulation (EU) 2017/625. The update reflects new guarantees and control plans from several countries, clarifies product categories, and removes or adjusts entries for countries based on updated compliance evidence.
School Fruit, Vegetable, and Milk Aid Allocations Amended
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2275 of 9 October 2026 amends Decision (EU) 2025/680, updating the definitive allocation of Union aid to Member States for school fruit, vegetables, and milk for the period from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026. The adjustment reflects notified transfers between allocations by France and Portugal.
Directive on Seed Potatoes Amended to Include True Potato Seed Varieties
Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2026/2250 of 12 October 2026 amends Implementing Directive 2014/21/EU and Council Directive 2002/56/EC. The changes enable production of pre-basic seed potatoes from true potato seed of seed-propagated varieties, and introduce new labelling requirements for these products, ensuring traceability and alignment with advances in plant breeding.
Commission Renews Approval of cis-tricos-9-ene for Biocidal Products
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2247 of 12 October 2026 renews the approval of the active substance cis-tricos-9-ene for use in biocidal products of product-type 19 (repellents and attractants) under Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. The renewal follows a positive European Chemicals Agency opinion and is subject to specified conditions.
Emergency Measures Revised for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2295 of 9 October 2026 amends Decision (EU) 2023/2447, revising protection and surveillance zones for Belgium and Bulgaria following new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza. The changes adjust the duration and boundaries of the disease control zones in line with Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.
EU Council
Environment Council Reviews EU Emissions Trading System and Prepares COP31 Mandate
On 12 October 2026, the Environment Council discussed the proposed review of the EU’s emissions trading system. Ministers also approved conclusions on the EU’s main negotiating positions ahead of the United Nations climate change (COP31) and biodiversity (COP17) summits.
Agriculture and Fisheries Council to Address CAP, Trade, and Baltic Sea Fisheries
On 26 October 2026, agriculture ministers will seek to agree on a partial negotiating position on post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy rules. Fisheries ministers will aim for a political agreement on Baltic Sea fishing opportunities for 2027 and prepare the EU’s position for the upcoming ICCAT annual meeting.
What We're Reading This Week
- NGO: Brussels confirms Czech PM’s agri business conflict of interest: Brussels officially recognizes Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s conflict of interest in agricultural business dealings, says NGO.
- Sofía Monsalve, UN special rapporteur on the right to food: ‘Famine is being normalized by dehumanizing a population’: Sofía Monsalve warns that global indifference and dehumanization are enabling widespread famine and violations of the right to food.
