Eight EU member states requested that a debate on the resumption of trade negotiations with the Mercosur countries takes place at this week's Farm Council.

The eight – Ireland, France, Greece, Hungary, Austria, Luxemburg, Poland and Finland – expressed their regret at the decision to resume trade talks without prior political debate, and without full appreciation of possible impacts on the EU's agricultural sector. They cited fears about animal-welfare standards, quality orientation and environmental considerations in their concerns on any trading deal with Mercosur, which comprises Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

EU water legislation should be incorporated into the CAP's cross-compliance mechanism to ensure improved water quality across the agricultural sector, said Environment Commissioner Janez Ptotocnik. He said: "We could contribute to improving water quality right across the board."

More products have been added to the EU's Database of Origin and Registration. They are the German hop Tettnanger Hopfen and cheese Nieheimer Kase, the Spanish chestnut Castana de Galicia, and the Greek olive oil Exeretiko Partheno Kritis.