INTA Committee of the Parliament approved the provisional agreement for the GSP Regulation as was negotiated in trilogues in December 2025. Copa-Cogeca strongly regrets the approval of this agreement as it stands. We firmly believe that an automatic safeguard for rice is necessary to protect such a sensitive sector. Nevertheless, at their current levels the thresholds and surge quantities agreed would only allow the mechanism to activate once great damage has already been done.
The displacement of European Indica rice production, which covers around 100,000 hectares, would have a severe economic impact on the EU. In key producing regions, rice land is valued at €30,000 to €40,000 per hectare, meaning potential losses of €3–4 billion for the EU economy. These losses would be vastly disproportionate to the limited economic gains for GSP exporting countries, estimated at just €15–18 million if we consider the average volume and price of their imports.
While European Indica rice is currently the most exposed to low-priced imports, the risk is widening. Imports of round and medium Japonica rice have increased in recent years, intensifying competition with traditional European production. There is growing concern that this pressure could extend to specific Japonica varieties, including risotto rice, which would also affect the possibilities of Indica growers to switch to Japonica production and continue their activity.
Rice production is structurally vulnerable. Rice land cannot easily be converted to other crops and is often located in protected wetland areas, where farming plays a vital role in water management, biodiversity, and landscape preservation. Any significant loss of rice production would therefore have serious economic, social, and environmental consequences.
We appreciate wholeheartedly the support from all members of the INTA Committee who voted against this agreement, and now that it is moving to Plenary, we hope more MEPs will understand the weight and importance of this decision for the future of the rice sector.
Fonte: Copa and Cogeca
