In July 2026, the European Commission tabled a long-awaited proposal to revise the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The ETS is one of the most important pillars of the European Green Deal and aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The EU ETS was established in 2003 (EU ETS Directive), has evolved into a key instrument for achieving the EU's cliamte objectives. The current system is designed to reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared

The European Commission is consulting on draft rules intended to harmonise how packaging producers register and report under the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. The proposal would introduce common formats for national producer registers, covering company details, extended producer responsibility arrangements, producer responsibility organisation certificates and authorised representatives. It would standardise the packaging data companies submit. For businesses o

On 14 October 2026, BeST is hosting* an high-level policy dialogue "From Mine to Mission - Critical Raw Materials for Defence Capability". It aims to explore how Europe can strengthen the resilience of critical raw material supply chains that underpin defence capabilities and defence-industrial readiness. Europe's defence capabilities increasingly depend on secure and resilient access to critical raw materials. Materials such as beryllium, nickel and niobium play an indispen

European Commission has taken another major step in implementing its artificial intelligence (AI) strategy with the launch of a €10 billion call for tenders to establish up to seven AI Gigafactories across Europe. Announced on 30 July, the initiative aims to create the high-performance computing infrastructure needed to develop next-generation AI models within Europe while leveraging an estimated €20 billion in additional private investment. The initiative forms part of the E

Botanicals are commonly known for their traditional use in herbal medicine, therapeutic properties, and aromatic properties. Botanicals are derived from plants, algae, fungi, or lichens and are becoming increasingly popular on the European market (European Food Safety Authority, 2026). One of the most popular examples is ashwagandha, as well as aloe vera or peppermint. They are found on the European market in the form of food supplements, cosmetics, skincare and aromatherapy.

Food supplements have become increasingly popular in recent years. They provide concentrated sources of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbal extracts and other substances intended to "supplement" the normal diet. In the European Union, food supplements are regulated as food, not as medicinal products. They therefore fall under EU food law, in particular the General Food Law Regulation (EC) No 178/2002. The main piece of legislation specifically governing