#EU: Euro. Parliament Votes To Ease Regulations On Genetically-Modified Crops

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Europe has long been a bastion of skepticism about genetically engineered organisms, but today the European Parliament voted to lessen regulatory oversight of crops created through one type of DNA manipulation: gene editing.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHAFRICA: Food To Get New Front-Package Nutrition Labels

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South Africa’s health minister published draft food labelling regulations in April. These will introduce a new labelling plan, limit advertising of unhealthy foods and restrict the use of misleading health claims.

The draft regulations propose clearer food labels, which include a new triangle highlighting that the food contains ingredients that are unhealthy. These logos will be placed on the front of a product.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ITALY: Gov't Set To Ban Lab-Grown Meat

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The Italian government has given its support to a bill that would prohibit the sale of lab-grown meat and other synthetic foods, highlighting Italian food heritage as a leading cause.

If the bill passes, anyone who violates the ban could face fines of up to €60,000 ($65,017).

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Scotland's Parliament May Consider Petition To Ban Meat By 2040

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The Scottish Parliament’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee will consider a new petition that calls for a countrywide meat consumption ban by 2040.

Roger Green submitted the petition. He is a member of Vote With Your Fork, a campaign that seeks to move the world towards a meat-free future. The petition sets out environmental reasoning behind the idea, alongside concerns about animal welfare.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#THENETHERLANDS: Parliament Close To Approving Lab-Grown Meat

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The Netherlands is one step closer to lab-grown meat. Two parties have submitted a motion in parliament to make the tasting of cultured meat possible in the Netherlands. A majority in parliament said they would vote for this motion.

Lab-grown or cultured meat is meat grown from animal cells but without any animals being killed. It is currently still banned in Europe. Researchers aren't even allowed to taste a piece. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRELAND: Supreme Court Rules Subway Bread Contains Too Much Sugar To Be Considered "Bread"

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Ireland's Supreme Court has ruled that sandwiches made by Subway contain too much sugar to legally be considered bread. 

The ruling today arose from an appeal from Bookfinders Ltd, a Subway franchisee, which claimed that it should not have to pay Value Added Tax, as many products it sells are “staple foods” and should attract a 0% VAT rate. 

However, the five-judge court ruled that the sandwiches must attract a rate of VAT due to its sugar content. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#POLAND: Kosher, Halal Meat Exports Banned By Lower House Of Parliament

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Poland has moved a step closer to terminating its $1.8 billion industry of kosher and halal meat for export — one day after a parliamentary committee had removed language about a ban in an animal rights bill.

Th parliament’s lower house, the Sejm, voted in favor of the Law on Animal Protection. Among the 460 lawmakers, 375 backed the measure. The text on the ban was reintroduced.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Social Democrats, Greens, Want To Raise Taxes On Meat To Tackle "Climate Change"

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German politicians from the Social Democratic Party and the Greens proposed raising the value added tax (VAT) on meat to the standard rate of 19%. Currently, meat is taxed at a reduced rate of 7% like most foodstuffs.

SPD agricultural policy spokesperson Rainer Spieging said, "a meat tax, such as increasing the VAT to 19%, could be a way forward."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Green Legislators Urge Higher Meat Taxes To Fight Global Warming

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Some German politicians are speaking out in favor of raising the Value Added Tax on meat in a bid to improve animal welfare and cut CO2 emissions.

The decision makers want to raise the tax to the standard VAT, or 19%, up from the current 7% that consumers are currently required to pay for meat products.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Conservative Party Leadership Frontrunner Johnson Will Review "Sin Taxes"

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Conservative Party leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson has pledged to halt hikes on so-called sin taxes, which include levies on tobacco, alcohol and sugar. He says he will review the effectiveness of taxes on unhealthy products if he becomes the UK’s next Prime Minister.

He also wants to find out if the levies unfairly hit people on low incomes and says he won't introduce any more until the review has been completed.
[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#TANZANIA: Pres. Urges Gov't Ministries To "Take Advantage" Of Refugee Crises To "Make A Profit" On Food Sales

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Tanzanian President John Magufuli has urged his government's Ministers to "take advantage" of refugee crises and make money by selling food to international aid organisations. The country hosts around 300,000 refugees. Speaking in the nation's capitol, Dar es Salaam, Magufuli celebrated the signing of a contract to deliver 36,000 tons of corn to the UN World Food Program (WFP) for around $9.1 million. The European Union and the World Bank recently moved to sanction Magufuli's government for its repressive policies.

After his comments in front of ministers and WFP representatives led to some snickers and giggles, the president tried to qualify his words: "I do not say that I wish they fight, but if they fight, that their conflict is a source of profit for us."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#QATAR: "Nutrition Facts" Label Becomes Mandatory For Imports After Grace Period

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Food products without the "nutrition facts" label will no longer be imported to Qatar, as the Ministry of Public Health made the label mandatory from January 1. The ministry said it had notified traders about the new requirements in May last year. Under the new labeling system, each dietary elements in the food item should be specified along with the calories. This is intended to help consumers choose food based on the contents, dietary needs and calculate the calories.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: Scottish Ministers Seek Ban On Growing Genetically-Modified Food

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Scottish ministers are planning to formally ban genetically modified crops from being grown in Scotland, widening a policy divide with the Conservative government in London. Ministers in Edinburgh will apply recent EU powers that allow devolved administrations to opt out of more relaxed standards allowing use of GM crops in the EU.