Review of the EU legislation for 25/01/2025

Here’s a concise review of the legal acts:

1. Dangerous Goods Transport Directive:
   Updates EU regulations for transporting hazardous materials across road, rail, and inland waterways, with new provisions taking effect from January 2025. Member States have until June 2025 to implement changes.
2. African Swine Fever Regulation:
   Modifies restricted zones for ASF control in Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Slovakia, adding new areas and removing others based on current disease situation.
3. E-Bikes Countervailing Duties:
   Maintains duties of 3.9% to 17.2% on Chinese electric bicycles due to continued subsidization through preferential financing, tax benefits, and below-market inputs.
4. E-Bikes Anti-dumping Duties:
   Extends existing measures against Chinese e-bikes with duties ranging from 9.9% to 70.1%, requiring valid commercial invoices for individual rates.
5. Valais/Wallis Wine Protection:
   Grants EU-wide protection to Swiss wine appellation “Valais/Wallis” following registration under the Lisbon Agreement.
6. Aircraft Maintenance Regulation:
   Introduces new requirements for electric and hybrid aircraft maintenance, including updated licensing and training provisions, effective February 2026.
7. Agricultural Products Promotion:
   Introduces lump sum payments, simplifies administrative procedures, and strengthens conflict of interest prevention in agricultural promotion programs.
8. EU-Switzerland Agricultural Prices:
   Updates reference prices and price differences between EU and Swiss markets for agricultural products like wheat, milk products, and eggs, effective February 2025.

Review of each of legal acts published today:

Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2025/149 of 15 November 2024 amending the Annexes to Directive 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council to take into account scientific and technical progress

This Directive amends the existing regulations on the inland transport of dangerous goods within the European Union, updating them to reflect the latest scientific and technical developments. It modifies three key international agreements covering the transport of dangerous goods by road (ADR), rail (RID), and inland waterways (ADN).The Directive’s structure is straightforward, containing four main articles that outline the amendments, transposition requirements, entry into force, and addressees. The amendments specifically update Annexes I, II, and III of Directive 2008/68/EC, replacing previous versions with new provisions that take effect from January 1, 2025.The key provisions include:
– Implementation of updated international agreements for dangerous goods transport across all three modes (road, rail, and inland waterways)
– A transitional period until June 30, 2025, for Member States to implement the necessary changes
– Replacement of terms ‘contracting party’ and ‘RID Contracting State’ with ‘Member State’ in all relevant contexts
– Requirement for Member States to communicate their implementing measures to the Commission
– Mandatory reference to this Directive in national implementing legislation

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/164 of 23 January 2025 amending Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 laying down special control measures for African swine fever

This is a Commission Implementing Regulation amending Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2023/594 regarding special control measures for African swine fever (ASF). The regulation updates the restricted zones I, II and III in various EU member states where special disease control measures for ASF need to be applied. The main changes include: – Adding new restricted zones in Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Slovakia due to new ASF outbreaks in wild and kept porcine animals – Redefining boundaries of existing restricted zones in these countries based on the epidemiological situation – Delisting certain zones in Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia where the disease situation has improved The regulation contains detailed lists of municipalities and regions that fall under each restricted zone category (I, II or III) in the affected member states. The zoning is based on risk assessment, scientific criteria, international standards and justifications provided by national authorities. The changes reflect the dynamic epidemiological situation of ASF in the EU and aim to prevent further spread while allowing safe trade. The measures include restrictions on movements of pigs and pork products from affected areas.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/114 of 23 January 2025 imposing a definitive countervailing duty on imports of electric bicycles originating in the People’s Republic of China following an expiry review pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1037 of the European Parliament and of the Council

This is a Commission Implementing Regulation imposing definitive countervailing duties on imports of electric bicycles (e-bikes) from China following an expiry review. The regulation maintains existing countervailing duties ranging from 3.9% to 17.2% on Chinese e-bikes.The regulation’s structure includes sections on: procedure, product definition, subsidization analysis, injury analysis, Union interest assessment, and final measures. The key changes compared to previous versions are the confirmation of continued subsidization and likelihood of injury recurrence if measures were removed.The main provisions include:

• Confirmation that Chinese e-bike producers continue to benefit from countervailable subsidies through preferential financing, export credit insurance, provision of inputs at below market prices, tax benefits and grants
• Finding that China has significant spare production capacity that could be used for exports to the EU if duties were removed
• Determination that maintaining duties is necessary to prevent injury to EU industry
• Detailed company-specific duty rates ranging from 3.9% to 17.2% for different Chinese producers
• Requirements for valid commercial invoices to qualify for individual duty rates

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/120 of 23 January 2025 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of electric bicycles, originating in the People’s Republic of China following an expiry review pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council

This is a Commission Implementing Regulation imposing definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of electric bicycles (e-bikes) from China following an expiry review. The regulation extends existing anti-dumping measures that were first imposed in 2019.The regulation consists of two main parts: (1) detailed findings from the investigation regarding dumping, injury and Union interest, and (2) the operative provisions imposing the duties. The structure includes sections on procedure, product scope, dumping calculation methodology, injury analysis, likelihood of recurrence of dumping/injury, and Union interest test.The key provisions include:- Confirmation that dumping from China continued during the review period- Individual duty rates ranging from 9.9% to 70.1% for different Chinese producers- Finding that the EU industry recovered from past injury but remains economically fragile- Conclusion that measures should be maintained to prevent recurrence of injury- Detailed rules on application of individual duty rates and potential future amendmentsThe most important aspects for implementation are:- Specific duty rates assigned to individual Chinese producers listed in annexes- Requirement for valid commercial invoice with certification for individual rates- Provisions for new Chinese exporters to request individual duty rates- Interaction with parallel countervailing duties- Rules on potential circumvention and changes in company names

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/139 of 16 January 2025 granting protection in the Union to the Appellation of Origin Valais / Wallis registered in the International Register of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications of the Geneva Act

This Commission Implementing Regulation grants protection in the European Union to the Appellation of Origin ‘Valais / Wallis’ for wine products from Switzerland. The protection is granted following Switzerland’s application through the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications, and the subsequent registration in the International Register.The Regulation consists of two main articles. Article 1 establishes protection for the name ‘Valais / Wallis’ as an Appellation of Origin in the EU and specifies that it applies to wine products. Article 2 sets the standard entry into force provision (twentieth day following publication).The key provisions include:
– The protection is granted following notification from the World Intellectual Property Organization on March 14, 2024
– The name was published in the EU Official Journal to allow for possible oppositions
– No oppositions were received during the prescribed period
– The application met all conditions required under Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1753
– The protection applies to the entire European Union territory

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/111 of 23 January 2025 amending Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 as regards continuing airworthiness for electric- and hybrid-propulsion aircraft and other non-conventional aircraft

This regulation amends Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 regarding continuing airworthiness requirements for electric and hybrid-propulsion aircraft and other non-conventional aircraft. Key aspects:The regulation addresses regulatory gaps by:

• Extending requirements to cover new types of aircraft power plants like electrical engines and hybrid ones
• Adding provisions for non-conventional aircraft that don’t fit existing aircraft categories
• Modifying the definition of complex motor-powered aircraft to be more proportionate for simple tilt-rotors

Main changes include:

• New definitions for aircraft categories including ‘non-conventional aircraft’
• Updated requirements for maintenance licenses and training to cover electric propulsion
• Modified experience requirements for license extensions
• Revised provisions for maintenance organizations dealing with electric/hybrid aircraft
• Updated forms and documentation requirements

The regulation aims to ensure a smooth transition for new electric aircraft types while maintaining safety standards. It introduces temporary alleviations for small electric aeroplanes regarding maintenance licenses until 2028. The changes will apply from February 13, 2026.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/70 of 21 November 2024 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1829 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products

This Regulation amends the rules for information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products in the EU and third countries. It simplifies administrative procedures, strengthens conflict of interest prevention, and introduces new funding calculation methods through lump sums alongside the existing cost reimbursement system.The act modifies Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1829 in three main areas:

• Changes to organization eligibility criteria and program support conditions
• Enhanced conflict of interest prevention measures
• Introduction of lump sum payments as an alternative to cost reimbursement

Key provisions include:

• Removal of additional representativeness requirements for agri-food sector bodies that already have public service missions
• Limitation of support to maximum two programs for the same product/scheme in the same target area, with specific timing conditions for subsequent applications
• New requirements for organizations to ensure absence of conflicts of interest during both proposal preparation and program implementation
• Introduction of lump sum payment options with specific calculation methods based on statistical data, historical information, or existing EU/Member State grant schemes
• Enhanced transparency requirements for implementing body selection procedures

Decision No 1/2025 of the EU-Switzerland Joint Committee of 13 January 2025 amending Tables III and IV of Protocol 2 to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Swiss Confederation of 22 July 1972 [2025/128]

This Decision amends Protocol 2 to the 1972 Agreement between the European Economic Community and Switzerland, specifically focusing on the price compensation measures for agricultural raw materials. The Decision updates the domestic reference prices and price differences between the EU and Switzerland for various agricultural products.The Decision consists of three articles and two annexes. It replaces Table III of Protocol 2 with new domestic reference prices for both EU and Swiss markets, and updates point (b) of Table IV regarding the basic amounts for agricultural raw materials. The changes are based on the price data collected from September 2023 to August 2024.The main provisions include:

• Updated reference prices for products such as common wheat, durum wheat, rye, common wheat flour, milk products (whole-milk powder, skimmed-milk powder, butter), eggs, fresh potatoes, and vegetable fat
• New price differences between Swiss and EU reference prices, expressed in both CHF and EUR
• Revised basic amounts for agricultural raw materials used in calculations of agricultural components
• The changes take effect from February 1, 2025

Notable aspects include significant price differences between Swiss and EU markets for certain products. For instance, butter shows a substantial price difference of 690.25 CHF per 100 kg net, while whole-milk powder has a difference of 368.05 CHF per 100 kg net. Some products like barley, maize, and white sugar are marked with dashes, indicating they are not subject to price compensation measures.