🌾 The EU Commission has launched a crucial consultation, inviting voices from all corners of the agricultural and food supply chain. In the agricultural and food industry, it’s common to see significant disparities in bargaining power between suppliers and buyers. These imbalances often result in unfair trading practices, where more powerful trading partners impose unfavorable terms on smaller agricultural and food suppliers. These unfair practices can include delayed payments, sudden cancellations, or changes to supply terms without mutual agreement. 

📜 In 2019, the EU adopted the Directive on unfair trading practices (UTPs) in the agricultural and food supply chain. This legislation, requiring implementation by May 2021, established a minimum standard of protection against those practices.

👩‍🌾 The European Commission is now conducting a comprehensive evaluation of this Directive, aiming to report its main findings by 1 November 2025. The first evaluation will assess the Directive’s effectiveness in its initial years. Stakeholders across the EU, including public authorities, farmers, cooperatives, suppliers, buyers, processors, traders, retailers, and consumers, are encouraged to share their insights.  

🗓 Visit the consultation platform and make your voice heard before the deadline on 29 November 2023: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13826-Agricultural-food-supply-chain-combating-unfair-trading-practices_en 📢