The umbrella group of farmers and agricultural co-operatives in the EU has welcomed the move by the European Commission to alter rules on unfair trading practices (UTPs) and the Common Market Organisation (CMO) for agricultural products.
Last week, the commission announced a range of measures to “strengthen farmers’ position in the agri-food supply chain”.
These included amendments to the current legal framework set in the regulation establishing a common market organisation of agricultural products, and a new regulation on cross-border enforcement against unfair trading practices.
The farm organisation Copa Cogeca has welcomed the “proactive approach” taken by the new Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, on bringing forward these proposals, after only recently stepping into office.
Copa said the proposals reflect many of the demands voiced by farming communities and their representatives earlier this year during a series of farmer protests in several EU countries.
However, while Copa said the proposal on UTPs is a step in the right direction to correct and improve the 2019 directive, the farm organisation said it is “crucial for this to go further”.
“Farmers and cooperatives can no longer bear the burden of selling their produce below the cost of production. The list of unfair trading practices must be updated to reflect the realities of today’s markets,” it said.
“We must also address the ‘fear factor’ by enabling anonymous complaints, and ensure effective enforcement mechanisms not only at national level but also in cross-border transactions.
“Robust and dissuasive sanctions must be applied in cases of rule violations to deter infringements and restore fairness in the supply chain,” Copa said.
The organisation also said that “particular attention” must also be paid to the proposals to improve the CMO regulation, especially regarding the role of producer organisations (POs).
“POs are instrumental in enhancing farmers’ market position, ensuring better negotiation conditions, and securing fair prices. Strengthening POs and safeguarding the specific relationship between farmers and their cooperatives will be vital in achieving these goals,” Copa said.
The farm group said it will be actively engaging with policymakers in the coming months to “ensure these proposals are refined to deliver the much-needed improvements for farmers and their cooperatives across Europe”.