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Welcome to our monthly insights into all EU agri-food policy news – from legislation and debates to political deals and manoeuvring – directly from Brussels and with a focus on sustainability.
At Ohana Public Affairs, we support companies and NGOs in navigating complex and fastmoving political environments at EU and global level. In this edition, we spotlight our Strategic Awareness service, a dedicated solution designed to help organisations understand the evolving political agenda, anticipate policy shifts and stay ahead of developments that could impact their operations or mission.
By delivering timely insights into legislative trends, stakeholder priorities and emerging political dynamics, our strategic monitoring enables organisations to identify opportunities and risks early, refine positioning, and inform decision-making in a rapidly changing policy landscape.
We track and analyse trends across a wide range of policy fields, such as sustainability, trade, and social, ensuring our clients always have a clear view of what matters most.
US and Member States call for additional simplification ahead of April technical revision
What? A high-level US delegation has toured EU capitals and met the European Commission to push for “substantial revisions” and simplification of the EUDR, including a new “negligible risk” country category that would further ease requirements for US exports such as soy and timber. Further calls on simplification are also coming from EU Member States: Germany has suggested moving reporting requirements to regional level, instead of farm level, while Austria is pushing to alleviate compliance burdens for countries with a “low risk”, including therefore all EU countries.
At the same time, the Commission is preparing rules to expand the EUDR Information System, enabling micro and small primary operators to submit simplified due‑diligence declarations. It will also provide wider access for companies operating later in the supply chain. The proposal includes contingency measures should the system experience downtime, and the updated Information System is expected to be adopted in Q2 2026.
Why is it important? Despite US pressure, the European Commission has made clear there will be no reopening of the core Regulation, stressing the need for predictability for companies already investing in compliance systems. This means the core EUDR obligations are expected to remain in place, while some technical simplifications and IT system improvements may make compliance more manageable, especially for smaller operators.
2040 climate goal becomes law, enforcement ramps up
What? EU governments have now given final approval to the amendment of the EU Climate Law, making the 2040 climate target legally binding. The EU must cut net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% compared to 1990 levels, with up to 5 percentage points allowed via international carbon credits from 2036. The Commission will, later this year, propose themechanism for purchasing these credits and start rolling out the policy package to deliver the target, beginning with an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) revision over the summer.
Why is it important? The EU’s new 90% emission‑reduction target is no longer just a political signal; it sets a clear course for Member States and will lead to stricter sectoral measures. Although the EU has avoided setting explicit climate targets for agriculture, the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change warns that without major cuts in agricultural emissions, the bloc cannot meet its climate goals. It recommends phasing out environmentally harmful CAP subsidies, introducing carbon pricing for agriculture, promoting more plant‑based diets, and increasing support to help farmers manage both the green transition and the growing impacts of climate change.
New cross-border enforcement rules for UTPs in the agrifood chain
What? The EU has adopted a new Regulation on cooperation among enforcement authorities responsible for applying the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive in business-to-business relationships in the agricultural and food supply chain. The rules are designed to address cross-border unfair trading practices where suppliers and buyers are established in different Member States, strengthening farmers’ position and helping ensure a fairer distribution of value along the chain.
The Regulation sets up a structured framework for transnational cooperation, including a mutual assistance mechanism for national authorities to request and exchange information, collaborate on investigations and enforce fines or penalties imposed in another Member State, as well as common rules on cost allocation, data protection and confidentiality to protect suppliers against retaliation. It also provides for coordinated action in cases of largescale cross-border UTPs involving at least three EU countries, and foresees cooperation where buyers are located outside the EU so that European farmers are still covered; the new framework will apply 18 months after its publication, giving authorities and operators time to prepare.
Why is it important? For agrifood operators, UTP enforcement will increasingly operate on an EU-wide rather than purely national basis, making it harder for abusive practices to “slip through the cracks” in cross-border supply chains. Buyers with multi-country sourcing and sales models should expect more consistent supervision, smoother information sharing between authorities and a higher likelihood that sanctions or corrective measures decided in one Member State can be followed up across the Single Market.
What? The European Commission has opened a four-week call for evidence on its forthcoming EU strategy for livestock, with feedback accepted until 10 April 2026. The initiative, to be presented as a Communication in Q2 2026, aims to set a long-term framework for a livestock sector that is crisis-resilient, globally competitive and economically, socially and environmentally sustainable, while reflecting Europe’s territorial diversity and integrating elements on animal welfare.
The strategy responds to declining herd numbers, farm closures, low profitability, climate pressures and animal health and welfare challenges. At the same time, NGOs have warned that the discussion setup in the European Board for Agriculture and Food, the EU expert group created by the EU Vision for Agriculture and Food, favours mainly large meat and dairy interests.
Why is it important? The strategy will guide future EU measures on support, sustainability requirements, animal welfare and possible alignment of standards for imported products, even if it does not immediately change legislation. The consultation is a key opportunity for companies to highlight practical needs on competitiveness, investment and transition pathways, and to influence how environmental and trade objectives are balanced.
What? EU negotiators have reached a provisional agreement on targeted changes to the Common Market Organisation (CMO) that introduce harmonised EU-wide rules on how plant-based and future cell-cultured products can be named. The deal keeps commonly used format terms such as “veggie burger”, “plant-based sausage”, “veggie nuggets” and “veggie schnitzel” on the market, but creates a blacklist of 31 “meat-related” names and cuts that will be reserved for products containing meat, with the same restrictions applying preemptively to cultivated meat once authorised in the EU.
For companies, this means:
Why is it important? For plant-based brands and retailers, the key operational impact is a structured re-labelling exercise: product ranges using species or cut names will need to be renamed EU-wide, checked against the final list of 31 reserved terms, and reapproved by legal and marketing teams, whilst terms like “burger” or “sausage” can still be used to retain consumer recognition.
Once the Regulation is formally adopted, producers will have a three-year transition period to bring their portfolio into line, including depleting existing stock and updating labels, packaging, marketing materials and related digital content.
What? The European Commission has launched a four-week call for evidence on a targeted revision of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), open until 14 April 2026. The initiative, linked to the RESourceEU Action Plan, the EU initiative aimed at securing the EU’s supply of critical raw materials to boost industrial competitiveness, focuses on easing specific permitting bottlenecks for critical raw materials projects while maintaining high standards of environmental and health protection, and will be backed by a full impact assessment.
Environmental NGOs and water sector stakeholders have raised concerns that reopening the WFD could weaken existing water protections and create legal uncertainty and are calling instead for better enforcement of current rules. Several coalitions representing river NGOs, water suppliers and users have urged the Commission to prioritise implementation of the existing water acquis and the Water Resilience Strategy rather than legislative changes.
Why is it important? For companies in water-intensive and critical raw materials value chains, the revision could clarify permitting procedures and conditions but may also lead to more detailed scrutiny of water impacts and mitigation measures. The call for evidence is a key opportunity for businesses, including agrifood and beverage operators, to highlight practical permitting challenges, costs and workable solutions before the Commission drafts its proposal.
10 April 2026
The European Commission launched a Call for Evidence on its upcoming Livestock Strategy in 2026 to strengthen the competitiveness, resilience and sustainability of the EU livestock sector, including elements on animal welfare. The initiative forms part of the Commission’s Vision for Agriculture and Food and is scheduled for publication in Q2 2026.
14 April 2026
The European Commission has launched a four‑week consultation to gather evidence for a targeted revision of the Water Framework Directive, focusing on simplifying rules and addressing regulatory bottlenecks linked to critical raw materials. Stakeholders can provide input via the Have Your Say portal until 14 April 2026.
14 April 2026
Organised at the European Parliament by the MEP Group on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, this event will gather policymakers, experts and stakeholders to discuss how to build a water resilient Europe in the context of the upcoming EU Water Resilience Strategy
14 April 2026
The 2026 Forum for the Future of Agriculture (ForumforAg) Annual Conference will take place at The Square in Brussels and online, bringing together policymakers, farmers, businesses, NGOs and researchers to debate how to build a more resilient, sustainable, climate-smart and nature‑positive agri‑food system.
20 April 2026
EFRAG invites non‑SME companies outside the CSRD scope, and other stakeholders, to join upcoming activities on the new Voluntary Standard. Participation may involve webinars, surveys, events or interviews. Expressions of interest are open until 20 April 2026.
21 April 2026
Hosted by FoodDrinkEurope and partners in Brussels, this full‑day AgriFood Pact for Skills annual event will convene key actors from across the agri‑food ecosystem to discuss future skills needs, showcase innovative training and upskilling initiatives, and explore how to attract the next generation into agri‑food careers.
If you have questions regarding anything in the Ohana Agri-Food Monthly Insights, please reach out to Natalia Yerashevich at natalia@ohanapublicaffairs.eu, or Francesca Fina at francesca@ohanapublicaffairs.eu