EU Vision for agriculture&food (sustainability, environmental claims, NGTs, pesticides and import controls)

On 19^th February, the EU Commission published its EU Vision for agriculture&food. The full 27page text, Q&A, and press release are here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_530

It is focused on the farmers while the food industry is mentioned in passing. Low farmers’ income (60% of EU average), lack of generational renewal, issues of competitiveness and unfair trade practices are among current challenges. CAP funding provides 23% of income and remains essential. The EU will coherently implement an SME and competitiveness check in its policies; it will become more assertive on strategic autonomy and food sovereignty.

Specifically, the Commission will (points relevant to FRUCOM members):

• propose in Q2 2025 a comprehensive Simplification package on (i) On-farm reporting for various practices (such as organic farming); (ii) simplified payments; (iii) simplified access to financial instruments under the current funds.
• will develop a voluntary benchmarking system for on-farm sustainability assessments;
• continue to enforce EU consumer protection laws to prevent unfair commercial practices; clear out misleading environmental claims;
• promote plant breeding innovations, including new genomic techniques (NGTs), which contribute to the EU’s food security and food sovereignty.
• carefully consider any further ban of pesticides if alternatives are not yet available, unless the pesticide represents a threat to human health or to the environment; accelerate the access for biopesticides.
• hold every year a Food Dialogue with the food system’s actors, to address pressing issues such as food reformulation, collection of data on dietary intake and food affordability.
• launch a study on the impact of the consumption of the so-called ‘ultra-processed foods’.
• propose an extension of the country of origin labelling in line with sectoral specificities and Single Market rules

“The Commission will pursue, in line with international rules, a stronger alignment of production standards applied to imported products, notably on pesticides. In that respect, the Commission will establish a principle that the most hazardous pesticides banned in the EU for health and environmental reasons are not allowed back to the EU through imported products. To advance on this, the Commission will launch in 2025 the Impact Assessment that will consider the impacts on the EU’s competitive position and the international implications and, if appropriate, propose amendments to the applicable legal framework.

Another non-negotiable element of the Union’s policy towards imports is food and feed safety, animal and plant health. The EU product standards are the highest in the world and ensure that all imported agrifood products are safe. The Commission will ensure that relevant food safety legislation is properly implemented and enforced. A dedicated task force will be established, pulling expertise and forces from the Commission and 27 Member States, which will significantly increase the Union’s response to further strengthening the control on imports, including a powerful strengthening of controls on the ground”.

Contact: Anna Boulova, aboulova@frucom.eu