EU ministers held two policy debates within the framework of the common agricultural policy (CAP) reform. In addition many of them supported the proposal of the Austrian delegation for launching initiatives allowing the development of a protein supply system specific to the EU. The Commission also gave an overview of the current situation regarding food products containing horsemeat mislabelled as beef.

The Council was generally comfortable with the Presidency proposal on basic payment scheme as a step towards a final package Council position. This is the conclusion on one of the policy debates held by EU ministers. With regard to the amendments on the publication of beneficiaries' names proposed by the European Commission in September 2012, most of the member states accepted the objectives and considered that the means proposed by the Commission to achieve that objective are appropriate and proportionate.

On the other hand, many member states supported the proposal of the Austrian delegation for launching initiatives allowing the development of a protein supply system specific to the EU. They considered this would help to decrease the EU dependency to imports as regards protein feed. Some delegations pointed out the need to comply with World Trade Organisation (WTO) requirements with this regard.

On the overview of the current situation regarding food products containing horsemeat mislabelled as beef given by the Commission, tests have already been performed in many member states giving an idea of the extent of the problem. These very specific tests had uncovered what appears to be a widespread fraud and mislabelling of certain processed products resulting in consumers being misled.