Cyprus welcomes EC food chain call

A European Commission call for a better functioning food supply chain in Europe and the presentation of the priorities of the Spanish EU Presidency were the main topics of the Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brussels.

Cyprus was represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Michalis Polynikis.

Speaking at the Council, Polynikis welcomed the proposals for a better functioning food supply chain in Europe with specific measures. He supported the adoption of measures to promote direct contact between retailers and their suppliers as well as the creation of producer groups.

Cyprus, he added, supports the petition of producer prices, resellers and retailers in product labeling, which aims to increase transparency in pricing and better consumer information.

The Minister referred to action by the Cypriot government to ensure transparency in the food supply chain, namely to organise producer groups in all sectors of Cypriot agriculture to help increase their bargaining power.

Polynikis also backed concrete measures in the internal market that will not allow the use of commercial practices by pan-European bodies of resale and processing which could obstruct cross-border trade rules.

In conclusion, the Minister endorsed standards policies which will govern relations between the various sectors of the food supply chain.