Four European organisations representing Europe’s farmers, food processors, retailers, wholesalers and traders pledged on Wednesday 20 April to “work together to maintain reliable food supplies for consumers in Europe and beyond”, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Copa-Cogeca, FoodDrinkEurope, EuroCommerce and CELCAA are calling on the EU and national governments to help them with:
- energy support;
- maintaining the integrity of the single market (avoiding protectionist measures that restrict the movement of agricultural commodities, food, feed and other inputs and ingredients);
- labelling (“practical and flexible” labelling solutions to provide consumers with accurate information while responding to the rapidly changing availability of ingredients);
- workable regulation;
- clear communication (avoid panic buying and stockpiling by consumers);
- overcoming bottlenecks (in transport, through the introduction of protected ‘green lanes’).
“We urgently ask policymakers to work with us in these difficult times to help us provide Europe’s consumers with a reliable supply of safe, affordable and high-quality food”, says a joint statement from the organisations. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)