Search Results for: France

BY MATTHEW BRACE

THE BIG question with solar energy is whether it will become sufficiently profitable for major utilities to provide comprehensive services. After all, solar energy is more abundant than all other renewable resources; it’s free and it can be harnessed almost anywhere in the world.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

PROPOSED European Commission reforms to the European Union (EU) wine market system have received an overwhelmingly negative initial reaction at the EU Council of Ministers. Arch-critic France resisted any changes in wine-making practices and joined with others to oppose the abolition of planting rights after 2013.…

BY DEIRDRE MASON

FEW issues have proved as globally divisive as the ability to modify crops genetically. For years, a line has been drawn between the cautious European Union (EU) and the go-for-it United States, which has seen them at loggerheads over trading genetically modified crops.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

A GROUNDBREAKING cooperation deal on protecting traditionally-made food products in overseas markets rolled into action yesterday (Tues 10-7), with China and European Union (EU) officials preparing legal protection for 10 lines each. The first EU agreement of its kind, the European Commission formally applied to register 10 EU food products within China’s geographical indications system.…

BY ALAN OSBORN

THE PLASTICS industry is currently faced with a wave of European Union (EU) legislation in different stages of enactment and implementation that will impact on its operations and sales. One particularly important and long-debated law is the new and comprehensive waste directive that is now approaching a final phase in the EU decision-taking process, and could be in force within a year from now.…

BY MONICA DOBIE

THE PRICE of tobacco products in Britain is the highest in the European Union (EU) claims EU statistics agency, Eurostat. In 2006, British tobacco goods were priced at 205% of the EU average with only non-EU member, Norway out-pricing it at 227% within the European Economic Area.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE EUROPEAN Commission has sent final legal warnings to 10 European Union (EU) member governments, telling them to abide by minimum standards for the training of professional drivers working in their countries. EU directive 2003/59 imposes requirements for initial qualification and continuing training: compulsory basic training of 280 hours, and periodic training of 35 hours every five years to update knowledge and skills.…

BY RACHEL JONES, in Caracas

A NUMBER of factors have contributed to a booming Latin American market in soap, perfume and cosmetics – most importantly, regional economic growth and a healthy overall GDP. Hair care is the region’s biggest seller, but an increase in life expectancy has created a growing demand for skin care products, especially those related to anti-aging and sun protection.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE NEW leaders of Britain and France have teamed up to pressurise the European Union (EU) into allowing special low rates of VAT for some environment-friendly products. French president Nicolas Sarkozy and UK prime minister Gordon Brown announced in Paris they would jointly push for low 5% VAT for cars with reduced CO2 emissions, insulation materials, efficient light bulbs and energy-efficient appliances.…

BY MONICA DOBIE

THE EUROPEAN Commission is giving food companies from 10 European Union (EU) member states Euro 38.8 million over three years to promote food product sales within the EU, with a large share going toward organic lines. France’s organic products agency Agence Bio and other French organic players, will receive Euro 3.6 million in EU funding, while Austria’s organic food producers, AMA Marketing GesmbH, will receive Euro 1.5million.…