Fittex

The European Commission has launched an investigation into Italian legislation prohibiting the use of condensed and powdered milk in dairy products, demanding appropriate labelling instead. Since milk powder is commonly used in cheese production elsewhere in the European Union (EU), the Italian law may contradict EU legislation on free movement of goods. Member States are allowed to impose additional food labelling requirements, on condition they are justified.

Traditionally a strong supporter of its agricultural sector, Norway has since 1 January 2013 been applying new ad valorem duties on imports of certain types of cheese, sheep and beef meat, resulting in sharp increases to respectively 277%, 429%, and 344%. This move was preceded by a new 72% import duty on hortensia flowers in September 2012, causing turbulence in EU-Norway relations, generally close and smooth.