The European Commission regularly introduces new regulations or abolishes old ones. But what are the new regulations that will have an impact on the food industry?
From 01 January 2023, the new agricultural reform of the EU comes into force, which brings some changes regarding agricultural subsidies. Among other things, it is new that now a proof must be presented that an agricultural business is actively managed. The most important change, however, are the organic regulations which bind 23% of the funds from the so-called 1st pillar. Within the framework of these, voluntarily provided environmental services are subsidized separately. These voluntary agricultural, environmental and climate measures are to be compensated as follows:
- Instead of basic premium with cross compliance basic requirements (173 €/ha), in future basic income support as a new, extended conditionality with 156 €/ha
- Instead of greening with 85 €/ha including preservation of permanent grassland, crop diversification and ecological priority areas in the future ecological regulations climate protection measures, rewarded with just 65 €/ha
- Young farmers will receive €115/ha instead of €44/ha and the redistribution premium will be €69 and €41/ha instead of €50 and €30/ha.
Another regulation that comes into force in January 2023 is the 2023/5 regulation. This states that the EU-wide use of partially defatted powder of Acheta domestica (the native cricket) in food will be permitted from January 24. So far, 4 insects have been approved as novel foods in the EU. The so-called novel foods are food ingredients that have not been used for human consumption to any significant extent in the EU before May 15, 1997. The insects approved so far include the yellow mealworm approved in 2021, followed with the migratory locust, buffalo worm, house cricket and now partially defatted powder from house cricket.
However, it will take some time before insects are regularly used in our foods, such as baked goods or other products. They are currently not available on a large scale and are therefore expensive raw materials. In the future, however, insects will play a major role. Due to their very high protein content, they represent a possible alternative to meat and fish. As protein suppliers, they even surpass nuts, legumes and cereals. But not only their high protein content speaks for their use. They contain many nutrients that are important for humans, such as valuable omega-3 and 6 fatty acids. Furthermore, they shine through their good ecological balance. Insects require far less space, water, food and cause fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional meat farming. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says that livestock farming is responsible for about 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Insects cause comparatively 100 times less C02 emissions in production.
Keep up to date with the latest EU regulations! As industry experts, we have developed an ERP system that is constantly adapting to changing regulations. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!
