The Observatory, which would hold its first meeting this summer, would include representatives from all sectors of the food supply chain, as well as representatives from Member States and the Commission.
The European Commission (EC) proposed on Friday to launch an observatory to analyze production costs, margins and trade practices in the agri-food chain, as part of a series of proposals to improve producer pay.
This observatory, which would hold its first meeting this summer, would be composed of representatives of all sectors of the food supply chain, as well as representatives of the Member States and the Commission, this institution indicated in a statement.
He goal is increase transparency about costs and margins in the chain, making data public and exchanging information with the aim of building trust between stakeholders and establishing a common diagnosis of the situation, the Commission has indicated.
Brussels has recalled that measures already exist at EU level to facilitate greater equality and protect farmers from this unfair trade practicesBut while the level of trust and cooperation between actors in the chain is increasing, “full implementation and compliance with available policy instruments takes time and more needs to be done,” the EC has acknowledged.
The Commission also proposes strengthen the rules applicable to contracts that farmers engage with buyers in the food industry or retail sector and strengthen producer organizations to enable farmers to collaborate more effectively and act collectively vis-à-vis other actors in the food supply chain.
Along the same lines, the Commission proposes the possibility new rules on the cross-border application of unfair commercial practices. Currently, at least 20% of agricultural and food products consumed in one Member State come from another.
Finally, the Commission will carry out a comprehensive assessment of the situation Unfair Commercial Practices Directive in the food supply chain, in force since 2021. A first report will be delivered next spring that will present the state of play of the implementation of this directive in the different countries, which will then be part of a more detailed evaluation that the Commission will present by 2025.
Source: EITB
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