The amendments are designed to improve farmers’ bargaining power when dealing with buyers and to create more balanced and resilient agrifood supply chains. One of the key elements will be the introduction of written contracts between farmers and buyers as a general rule.
The updated provisions stipulate that such contracts must take into account market developments, fluctuations in production costs, and economic conditions, including revision clauses for long-term agreements.
The proposal also seeks to simplify the rules for the official recognition of producer organisations, while allowing EU member states to provide additional financial support to these organisations and their associations under CAP sectoral programmes. Particular attention is given to encouraging young and new farmers to join recognised producer organisations.
The document also establishes clear conditions for the use of marketing terms such as “fair,” “equitable,” and “short supply chain”, ensuring these labels are applied correctly and are understandable for both producers and consumers.
An important part of the reform is the protection of meat product names. The new rules stipulate that the term “meat” and related denominations — including beef, veal, pork, poultry, chicken, turkey, duck, goose, lamb, goat, steak, ribs, tenderloin, bacon, and others — may be used only for products that actually contain meat.
This means that such terms will not be permitted for alternative products, including those produced through cell-cultured technologies or other meat-free substitutes.
The new rules are expected to enhance transparency within the EU internal market and help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions.
The provisional agreement must still be formally endorsed by both the Council of the EU and the European Parliament before the regulation is officially adopted and enters into force.
PigUA.info based on materials from pig333.com