Ref. Ares(2021)2728254 - 23/04/2021
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(SANTE);
(SANTE)
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(SANTE);
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(SANTE)
Subject:
BTO meeting with primary producers associations 11/02
Date:
jeudi 11 février 2021 17:46:37
Dear all,
Please find below the BTO of today’s meeting with some primary producers associations.
Best regards,
Meeting between the Commission and the primary producers associations
11/02/2021
Meeting held at the request of the associations to discuss the procedure for the drafting
of the Code of Conduct.
Participants:
- The associations:
(Animal
Health Europe),
(UECBV)
(Copa-
Cogeca).
- The Commission:
(G1 AGRI);
(GROW);
(D1
SANTE).
The Associations :
- Represent also FEFAC, EDA, CEJA, and CLITRAVI;
- Ask for a
fair representation of all parts of the chain;
- Ask for an official mandate from COM on the groups’ leaders to
avoid
invalidation of the working groups’ decisions by an actor not present at them;
- Propose the working groups to be
structured under the 3 pillars of
sustainability;
- Make the remark that if sectorial issues are to be addressed, sectoral
associations need to be represented;
- Ask the COM if
terms of references with details on the practical aspects will be
developed;
- Worry about the non-democratic process that could lead to
little buy-in by the
ones not present in the working groups;
- Remind the COM that
associations can’t sign commitments on behalf of their
members;
- Wonder about the possible overlaps and contradictions between the code and
the
future legislations;
- Remind the existence of
CSR on which members already work. The CoC should
be linked to existing initiatives without duplication;
- Ask that the code doesn’t anticipate measures that would require an impact
assessment;
- Ask for concrete measures that fit the economic model;
- Remind that companies produce what the consumer wants: need to
educate
and
communicate about existing efforts;
- Ask for the creation of a
webpage kept up to date with all decisions and
information along the process
- Remind that all sectors are important, and that the code
should not divide the
food sector by opposing parts of the chain. It must be a collective process.
- Appoint Copa-Cogeca as their contact point;
The COM:
- Explains that the 1st part will be general principles from associations, and the
2nd more concrete and preferably quantitative commitments from individual
companies; each part will be discussed separately. The code should also
contain
a framework for companies to sign later and commit to all or parts of the
commitments;
- Hasn’t agreed yet with the middle part associations on the number of groups
(maximum 5). Finalization of the process is ongoing;
- Wants a
transparent and inclusive process, but also
efficient: COM will have to
select the working groups’ participants, and make them less than 20 people.
Participants not only from the middle part, and also a representative of the COM
(to be decided);
- Asks the associations to choose 1 representative for the whole sector;
- Explains that the 1st meeting will present working procedures and the roadmap
to create content;
- Won’t make it a democratic exercise with veto, votes or majorities: the
COM
will have the final say and make a synthesis of the propositions based on the
alignment with the F2F and Green Deal; reminds that it must be a
consensus-
based exercise where the COM will listen to all stakeholders; the CoC won’t be a
COM document;
- Reminds the incompressible timetable: the CoC must be ready for the UN
summit;
- Encourages the associations to start working on how they can contribute in
terms of substance;
- Reminds that if voluntary processes don’t work, the
COM will use its
discretional power of legislative initiative;
- Reminds that sustainability will become the norm, and that we can’t wait until
the sustainable food framework is adopted in a few years. The code will bring
practical improvements now, and
go beyond existing legislation. The code will
be reviewed and
updated in the future;
- Explains that the code will
cover aspects difficult to regulate (ex: AW, increase
vegetables consumption), and
improve cooperation in the value chain;
- Explains that SANTE and GROW are the main chef de file, together with ENV.
Discussions took place with other DG, and will continue. AGRI is willing to play a
part in the process;
- Plans on answering all the uncertainties by the end of February, with group
discussions and drafting from beginning of March;
- Agrees that retailers are part of the middle chain and have a role to play;
- Agrees that the code must avoid top-down pressure.
Next steps:
- COM: keep the associations updated on the progress made on the process,
working groups, etc.
Electronically signed on 22/04/2021 12:09 (UTC+02) in accordance with article 11 of Commission Decision C(2020) 4482