Farm Europe and Eat Europe welcome the step forward to strengthen farmers’ position in the agrifood supply chain and to defend transparency and consumer protection, after the adoption by the European Parliament today of the report of MEP Céline Imart, amending the single Common Market Organisation reform.
Following the adoption of the Council’s position on 19th May, the European Parliament adopted a crucial report, with key proposals to rebalance the functioning of the food supply chain and better protect EU farmers, in the context of the reform of the Common Market Organisation (CMO).
The EP negotiating position constitutes an important step to improve the functioning of the EU food chain and overcome the chronic weakness of the agricultural link, clarifying contractual relations, enhancing farmers’ capacity to get organised by consolidating offer, and recognise the specificities of cooperatives with adequate provisions to underline and valorise their high standards of fair relations with their members.
Voting the report, the EP has adopted a strong position in favour of labelling and origin’s transparency and consumer protection. At a time when marketing practices increasingly blur the distinction between traditional animal-based products and their plant-based or lab-grown imitations, it asks for the swift introduction of a solid and comprehensive framework for the protection of meat product denominations, notably concerning key terms such as “burger,” “sausage,” and “steak” which are among the most commonly misused names for marketing imitation products. Words matter ! Clear and honest labelling is not simply a marketing issue—it is a matter of public health, consumer trust, and fair competition. Furthermore the report gives an answer to the vast majority of consumers asking to know the specific country—or even region—of origin of their food, intended as the place of farming.
We also welcome the approval of the amendment aiming at promoting and enhancing the value of European agricultural products, through prioritising food and agricultural products originating in the Union—particularly local and seasonal products in public procurement contracts.
The clear positions adopted by the European Parliament in plenary confirm the positions proposed by MEP Céline Imart. They enable the European Parliament’s rapporteur to enter into trilogue negotiations from a position of strength.
Moreover, the negotiating position that the European Parliament has adopted in this regard is important, not only to provide some short-term answers, but also to send a clear signal ahead of the decisions that will have to be taken in the context of the CAP reform, the process for which was launched with the Commission’s proposal on July 16th.
O artigo foi publicado originalmente em Farm Europe.
