Farm to Fork Strategy: 65 companies and associations sign the EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices
Today, the Commission, alongside industry stakeholders, officially launched the EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices, another deliverable under the Commission’s Farm to Fork Strategy.
This Code is an essential part of the EU’s efforts to increase the availability and affordability of healthy and sustainable food options that help reduce our overall environmental footprint. It has been developed with EU associations and companies, with active involvement and input from other stakeholders, including international organizations, NGOs, trade unions and trade associations, and together with the European Commission services. Associations and companies in the food sector that sign the code commit to accelerate their contribution to a sustainable transition. With their pledges, they endorse the objectives set out in the Code and encourage similar companies to also participate.
Two levels of commitments are included in the scheme:
- EU associations: set of seven objectives, each with its targets and indicative actions. These relate to actions that promote the shift towards healthy and sustainable consumption patterns. The objective is to improve the impact of food processing, retail and food services’ operations on sustainability and to improve the sustainability of the food value chains, in relation to primary producers and other actors in the chain. Associations should report on progress on a yearly basis.
- Companies: framework for frontrunners for ambitious commitments with measurable outcomes covering a wide range of areas, from animal welfare, to sugar reduction and cutting greenhouse gas emissions in their full product range. Companies will report progress by submitting a summary of their sustainability report on an annual basis.
On the day of the launch of the Code, 65 signatories (26 food manufacturers, 14 food retailers, 1 from the food service sector, 24 associations) become the first pioneering companies and associations (link to full list of signatories).
More EU associations and companies in the food sector are invited to join the Code of Conduct which is perceived to be a game-changing solution. Its multi-stakeholder dialogue approach may serve as a model for global transformation.
The Code marks the beginning of a dynamic process. The governance of the Code puts in place the tools for collaboration among all actors concerned in order to generate new and more ambitious commitments, partnerships, and stimulate interaction and exchange.
The Commission intends to present the Code in the United Nations’ Food Systems Summit later this year.
Related news
Monthly affair, shared responsibility: by shopping at Tesco we can help those who cannot afford menstrual products
On May 28, World Menstrual Hygiene Day, Tesco drew attention…
Read more >Major trade unions warn of critical situation in Spanish agriculture
Major trade unions warned of the critical situation in Spanish…
Read more >Hungarian-American agricultural diplomatic relations are experiencing a golden age
Hungarian-American bilateral relations are getting stronger, whether it is politics,…
Read more >Related news
Who won and who lost in 2024? – Spectacular differences in results in food retail
The balance of the 2024 business year in the food…
Read more >More profit from interest than from meat – new ratios of Pick Szeged’s results
The operations of Pick Szeged Zrt. were characterized by seemingly…
Read more >Auchan: multiplied profits in 2024 despite declining revenues
Auchan Hungary closed the 2024 business year with a spectacular…
Read more >