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European directive forbidding disloyal commercial practices could be adopted
The European Commission is working on a draft Directive forbidding disloyal commercial practices such as delayed payments for perishable foodstuff, last minute order cancellation,unilateral or retroactive contract amendments and compelling the supplier to pay for products lost or unsold.
According to a press release of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Directive might be approved in the period when Romania holds the EU Council presidency (for 6 months, starting on January 1, 2019).
Petre Daea, the minister of agriculture, participated on Monday at the meeting of the Council of Ministers AGRIFISH, held in Luxembourg. Disloyal practices in the food supply chain, food waste and the management plan for western waters were among the most important topics on the agenda of the Council.
“The Council noted the presentation by the Commission of a draft directive on disloyal commercial practices in the food supply chain. According to the draft Directive, disloyal practices which should be forbidden are: delayed payments for perishable foodstuff, last minute order cancellation,unilateral or retroactive contract amendments and compelling the supplier to pay for products lost or unsold,”MADR points out.
The final adoption by Parliament of the draft Directive is preceded by a series of work stages, such as: detailed presentation at meetings of the Special Committee for Agriculture (April 23 and 30, 2018), discussion by the Council within expert work groups (May 23, 2018), presentation of report on progress at the Special Committee for Agriculture (June 2018), activities within expert work groups will continue under Austrian presidency (July 2018), while the possibility of concluding negotiations and adopting the Directive is estimated during Romania’s presidency.
On the other hand, the ministers made an exchange of opinions on ways of reducing food waste in EU and analysed the progress recorded in putting into application conclusions on food losses and waste in Council conclusions of June 2016.