Unfair trading practices in the business-to-business food supply chain

11.4.2014

Question for written answer E-004539-14
to the Commission
Rule 117
Petri Sarvamaa (PPE)

In its Green Paper on unfair trading practices in the business-to-business food and non-food supply chain in Europe and in the public consultation which it held, the Commission stated that many dishonest practices occur in the food supply chain.

As the Green Paper indicates, an unbalanced situation in which fair trading practices are not adhered to may in practice force agricultural producers, for example, into a precarious position. Agricultural producers often have limited opportunities to choose who to sell their products to, and, because of the characteristics of many of their products, they do not have the option of storing them for any length of time in order to obtain better terms of sale.

The Commission has promised to propose measures to remedy the situation, but so far no such proposals have been forthcoming. The term of office of the current Commission is approaching its end. Will Commissioner Barnier keep his promises? Why has this matter dragged on for so long? What measures will the Commission propose in order to put an end to unfair trading practices?

OJ C 399, 12/11/2014