BEEF imports to the EU from Brazil will be severely restricted and reduced from early 2008 after veterinary experts agreed that the South American producers were not meeting EU standards.

HALF of the population in most EU countries is now overweight or obese while an increasing number of children are dangerously heavy.

ALL long-grain rice from the US is set to be tested for genetically modified organisms after several consignments were found to have traces of GM rice varieties banned in Europe.