This week I have been back in Strasbourg for a plenary session and got a lot of good work done. It was great to be back at the centre of Europe, working with MEPs from across the continent to deliver on the big challenges we all face.

The European Parliament’s resolution on EU-Iran relations was passed which marks a significant step forward in our approach to the middle east. You’ll be able to read more of my thoughts in my National column next Tuesday.

Alyn Smith, SNP Member of the European Parliament, today welcomed the passing of a resolution calling for the Commission to establish, as soon as possible, an EU wide legal limit on industrial trans fats or trans fatty acids (TFAs).

It has been a busy week. The big news is the Scottish Government has published a consultation on a draft Independence Referendum Bill.

This does not mean there will be another IndyRef, there is a long way to go yet, but if there is another it will not be because the result of the 2014 referendum has not been respected – it will be because the promises made to Scotland have not been kept.

The SNP Manifesto clearly stated that another IndyRef could be called “if there is a significant and material change in the circumstances that prevailed in 2014, such as Scotland being taken out of the EU against our will.” It doesn't get more clear cut than that and, unlike the Tories who committed to the single market in their 2015 general election manifesto, we will stand by our promises.
http://www.snp.org/draft_independence_referendum_bill_here_s_what_it_means

In Brussels I have been busy meeting ministers from our Government and elsewhere in Europe. These have been productive and together we are building the good will needed across the EU. This groundwork is going to be essential for whatever happens next.

Elsewhere CETA got into even more difficulties, the EU's accounts were signed off again, and as an honorary vet I am deeply concerned about the potential impact of Brexit on animal welfare.

Alyn Smith, SNP Member of the European Parliament, today welcomed the Court of Session in Edinburgh ruling against a challenge to Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

The SWA claimed the plans were a breach of European Law but this has now been found wanting by both the European Court of Justice and the Court of Session.

Agri MEP Alyn Smith has today welcomed the European Parliament’s bold adoption of a report that will dramatically reduce the impact of Unfair Trading Practices (UTPs) on farmers. 

Alyn Smith, SNP Member of the European Parliament has today welcomed an announcement from Tennent’s brewery that they will place calorie labelling on tins of their beer. Alyn has been calling for nutritional labelling to be placed on alcoholic beverages since 2009.

Alyn Smith MEP has struck a blow against childhood obesity today (Wednesday) by voting down draft EU rules on baby food that would have allowed 30% of the energy to come from sugar. 

Supermarket giant Tesco has delivered a stinging blow to Scotland’s farmers by selling imported lamb beneath a banner proclaiming support for Scottish sheep farmers.  

SNP Member of the European Parliament and member of the Agriculture Committee, Alyn Smith, has today welcomed the passage of a European Parliament report which seeks a comprehensive ban on the marketing of food from clones and their descendants, and includes a demand to implement a system to guarantee the traceability of these products.

Alyn Smith, SNP Member of the European Parliament and member of the Agriculture Committee, has welcomed the move by Germany to stop the growing of genetically modified crops under new European Union rules.