The Commission's view on Unfair Trading Practices in the food - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Commission's view on Unfair Trading Practices in the food supply chain EESC hearing Promoting a fairer agro-food supply chain Brussels, 22 June 2016 Gerd Heinen, Policy Officer, business-to-business services Internal market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Commission assessments January 2013 – UTP Green Paper July 2014 – Commission Communication January 2016 – Commission Report on UTPs Internal market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Commission report - - Assessment of national frameworks: Several meetings with Member States (ministries and enforcement bodies). Bilateral follow-up work. - - Assessment of voluntary initiatives: Independent assessment of SCI and national voluntary platforms by external research company Internal market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Conclusions of the report on national legislations - 1 - large majority of MS introduced regulation and public enforcement - addressing the ‘fear factor’ through accepting confidential complaints and independent enforcement - different approaches can address UTPs effectively Internal market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Conclusions of the report on national legislations - 2 - at this stage: no added value of a specific harmonised approach - close monitoring of national frameworks - MS without UTP legislation could benefit from following successful examples of national voluntary initiatives Internal market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Conclusions of the report on Supply Chain Initiative - 1 Benefits: - created awareness around UTPs and induced cultural change - potentially faster and cheaper alternative to judicial proceedings - could help resolve cross-border issues Internal market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Conclusions of the report on Supply Chain Initiative - 2 Areas for improvement: - enhance impartiality of SCI governance group, potentially independent chair - enable individual confidential complaints and independent investigations - Commission to closely follow developments Internal market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Thank you for your attention! Gerd Heinen Policy Officer, business-to-business services Directorate-General Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Internal market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs