The European Parliament’s Agriculture and Rural Development Committee has strengthened the protection of farmers against unfair trading practices, by adopting (44 votes in favour, one against, no abstentions) the draft report by Stefano Bonaccini (S&D, Italian) on the proposal for the relevant directive, on Tuesday 15 July. The European Parliament plenary vote will take place in September (see EUROPE 13634/8).
To better protect farmers, MEPs want Member States to be able to intervene ex officio, i.e. to put an end to unfair cross-border trading practices on their own initiative, without the need for a formal complaint from a producer.
MEPs strengthened the provisions relating to the proposed system of alerts for unfair trading practices, which might be taking place in two or more countries. Designated points of contact from the national competent authorities and the European Commission should form a permanent information network. This system would enable all members to be automatically and immediately notified about suspected unfair trading practices in other countries.
In addition, to prevent operators from circumventing the law by moving their base outside of the EU, MEPs want to extend the rules to protect producers who are suffering from unfair trading practices of buyers established in third countries.
Lastly, MEPs want to ensure that, in cases where Member States have chosen to prohibit more unfair trading practices than those currently covered by European legislation (such as selling below the cost of production), the enforcement authorities can apply the new rules on cooperation by mutual agreement. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)