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Ref. Ares(2021)2728254 - 23/04/2021
From:
 (SANTE)
To:
 (SANTE); 
 (SANTE); 
SANTE);
(SANTE); 
 (SANTE)
Cc:
 (SANTE); 
(SANTE); 
 (SANTE); 
(SANTE); 
 (SANTE); 
 (SANTE); 
 (SANTE);
 (SANTE); 
 (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