The European Parliament has adopted a new, stricter definition of meat

The body adopted a negotiating mandate for discussions with member states on new rules aimed at eliminating imbalances in the agricultural and food supply chain at its plenary session in Strasbourg.

The new regulatory package also includes the European Parliament’s comprehensive reform of agricultural policy, which aims to strengthen the contractual position of producers and stabilize their incomes.

According to the Parliament, making written contracts for agricultural products mandatory increases transparency and reduces market abuse. However, Member States may request exemptions for certain sectors if the organisation of the production sector in question considers this justified.

Members also proposed new labelling and marketing rules. The “short supply chain” label would only be used for products of EU origin that reach the consumer through a small number of intermediaries or reach the market within a short time or distance. The use of the “fair” label would be linked to a contribution to rural development and the strengthening of producer organisations.

The package of rules also states that only food of plant and animal origin whose pesticide residues do not exceed the maximum levels applicable to EU products may be imported into the European Union.

With regard to public procurement, Member States must ensure that contracts give priority to goods originating from EU, local and seasonal agricultural products, with particular attention to products with EU geographical indications of origin.

The negotiations will require Member States to The negotiations with the European Council will begin in the coming weeks, aiming to create fairer market conditions between farmers, processors and consumers.