On Monday 1 October, member states meeting in the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) agreed in principle on the legislative proposal to step up the fight against unfair trading practices (UTP) in the food supply chain.
The member states’ agreement builds on the initial legislative proposal and will establish a minimum level of protection for farmers against the most obvious UTPs (for which major distributors may be responsible), such as last minute order cancellations and obligations on the supplier to pay for wasted products.
Agricultural products other than food are covered by the text and it is possible for suppliers to lodge a complaint in their own member state. Clarification is also given regarding the fact that member states have the possibility to maintain or introduce rules against UTPs that are stricter than those at European level, a Council press release states.
On Monday, the European Parliament committee on agriculture also adopted its position with a view to launching interinstitutional negotiations with the Council of the EU (see EUROPE 12105). (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)