Browse Data and Analysis

The combination of COVID disruptions and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks led to a 1.8 percent decline in EU (European Union) chicken meat production in Calendar Year (CY) 2021. Despite ongoing HPAI outbreaks, easing COVID restrictions will likely result in a 0.2 percent increase in EU chicken meat production in CY 2022.

On May 2020, the European Commission announced a revision of the legislative framework for Geographical Indications (GIs) as part of the European Union (EU) Green Deal’s Farm to Fork Strategy.

Hong Kong continues to take random tests on imports of chilled and frozen foods and their packaging for the COVID-19 virus.

The European Commission is banning titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive in the EU, starting with a six-month phasing out period as of February 7, 2022, until August 7, 2022, after which a full ban applies. Following the publication of Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63 in the EU’s Official Journal (OJ) on January 18, 2022, Annex II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives will be amended accordingly.

Both EU beef and pork production are forecast to decline in 2022. The lower domestic beef production is caused by a shrinking dairy herd with higher milk deliveries but a lower output of animals for slaughter.

On March 25, 2021, the European Commission launched an official public consultation on possible revisions to the European Union (EU) feed additives legislation.

This quarterly report covers January through March 2021 and provides details on the status of the EU Green Deal objectives and strategies including the Farm to Fork Strategy (F2F), Biodiversity Strategy, the Climate Target Plan, the EU Methane Strategy, and the Circular Economy Action Plan.

EU sugar production for MY 2021/22 is forecast at 15.8 million metric tons (MT) in Raw Sugar Equivalents (RSE), a recovery of 1.1 million MT from MY 2020/21, but still 750,000 MT below the revised MY 2019/20 production.

On March 27, 2021, a new EU regulation went into force to enhance transparency of risk assessment in the food chain by increasing the independence of scientific studies, strengthening the governance of the European Food Safety Authority, and developing comprehensive risk communication.

In 2020, Dutch wood pellet imports reached a new high, totaling $511 million. The United States was the leading non-European Union (EU) supplier to the Netherlands.

In MY2021/22, total European Union grain production is anticipated to rebound nearly 7 MMT to 286 MMT. After persistent drought last season, yields in the main producing EU Member States are expected to return to average levels.

Total EU oilseeds area in MY 2021/22 is forecast to marginally increase by almost one percent. This increase in planted area is expected to take place in all three major oilseeds: soybean, rapeseed, and sunflower.