MEPs back changes to strengthen farmers’ position in the food supply chain

• Compulsory written contracts for delivery of agricultural products, with some exceptions
• Clearer labelling and advertising rules
• Public procurement to prioritise local and seasonal products from the EU

Parliament has adopted its mandate for talks with member states about new rules aimed at restoring balanced power relations in the agri-food supply chain.

The amendments to the current common agriculture policy laws aim to strengthen the contractual position of farmers and thus stabilise their income. In the mandate for talks with the Council, adopted on Wednesday by 532 votes to 78 and 25 abstentions, Parliament proposes several improvements.

Written contracts and producer organisations

MEPs support mandatory written contracts for deliveries of agricultural products. They, however, propose that EU member states may exempt specific sectors of that obligation at the request of an organisation representing the sector. Parliament also lowers to €4,000 (from €10,000 proposed by the Commission) the threshold value when Member States may decide that contracts are not compulsory.

To avoid unnecessary competition between production models, MEPs oppose the creation of organic producer organisations.

Labelling and marketing

MEPs want more clarity on the use of the terms "fair" or "equitable" for agricultural products and want the criteria for allowing such labelling to include the products' contribution to the development of rural communities and the promotion of farmer organisation development.

The term "short supply chain" on labels or in advertising should only be used for products produced in the EU with a limited number of intermediaries between the farmer and the final consumer or that are handled over a short distance or during a short time, say MEPs.

Pesticides in imported food

MEPs add to the new rules a condition that food and feed of plant and animal origin may only be imported from third countries if their residue levels of pesticides are below the maximum level allowed for those produced in the EU.

Public procurement

EU countries will have to ensure that supply contracts awarded under public procurement procedures are sourced from agricultural and food products originating in the Union, in particular using local and seasonal products. Priority should be given to products with EU geographical indications.

Stricter definition of meat

MEPs decided to introduce a new definition of meat as "edible parts of animals" and specify that names such as steak, escalope, sausage or burger must be reserved exclusively for products containing meat and must exclude cell-cultured products.

Quote

Rapporteur Céline Imart (EPP, FR) said during a plenary debate: "We want to make sure that farmers have a contract with their first buyer. We need to put an end to the precarious business relations that exist right now. All too often they are too imbalanced. We need to guarantee fair remuneration for those who feed us, taking into account the production costs involved.

"Farm income is not just a matter of statistics or abstract figures. It is a question of justice, dignity and sometimes even survival. Those who produce our food represent our identity. This instrument is the very least we owe them", added the rapporteur.

Next steps

Talks with member states about the final shape of the law are set to start on Tuesday 14 October.

• Hana RAISSI

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