Following overwhelming vote in the agriculture committee in favour
of the draft report on Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) in the food
supply chain, rapporteur and S&D member, Paolo De Castro
stated: “We, the European Parliament, are arming
David’s hand versus Goliath. Fairness, healthier food and
social rights are our weapons put in the hands of our
food producers, workers, consumers, all of us, to finally stop
the unfair trade practices perpetrated...Request free trial
Following overwhelming vote in the agriculture committee in
favour of the draft report on Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) in the
food supply chain, rapporteur and S&D
member, Paolo De Castro stated:
“We, the European
Parliament, are arming David’s
hand versus Goliath. Fairness, healthier food and social
rights are our weapons put in the hands of our
food producers, workers, consumers, all of us, to finally stop
the unfair trade practices perpetrated by the big players in the
food supply chain against farmers and producers, regardless their
economic dimension. We stand against all the unfair practices that
in any way can pose a major threat to farms and workers and puts at
risk food quality, and in turn our health. With its overwhelming
support to the report, the agriculture committee has armed
David’s hand.
“Hence, we say loud and clear, stop with unilateral
reductions of the contracted quantity for perishable goods, stop
with late payments for perishable products, and stop with the
obligations for suppliers to take back products not
sold.
“We say loud and clear to stop this blackmailing, that can
only bring about a dramatic race to the bottom in terms of social
rights, unemployment and human health. We said it already and we
repeat it once again: who do you think will pay the final price of
all these unfair trading practices? We will! All of us consumers
that risk finding low quality and health-damaging food on our
table.
“We need a common European legal framework able to harmonise
the over 20 different national regulations and prohibit specific
Unfair Trade Practices all over Europe. We are confident the EU
Commission and the EU Council won’t miss the appointment with this
crucial turning point. By the end of the year we all can make it
happen. Let’s do it.”
