EC will use Spanish food standards as example for Europe

Phil Hogan, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Union, said the food standards implemented in Spain and UK would be used as a model to develop European policies to correct unfair practices in the chain. Hogan delivered a lecture on the potential of European agriculture in the global economy in the VII Congress of Agricultural Cooperatives, an event that takes place every five years and that brings more than 1,000 people together in Valencia. This is Hogan’s first visit to Spain after he was elected as the new commissioner, when he replaced the Romanian Dacian Ciolos. Hogan defended the role of innovation in the food industry as well as the concentration of supply and internationalization, without forgetting the challenge of job creation.

In the future, we’ll have to produce more with less water, supplies, or energy, without compromising traceability, respecting the environment and meeting the increasing global demand for food, he noted.

In his opinion, all government should monitor the chain to prevent unfair practices. In this sense, he praised Spanish policies such as the food chain law, and the UK’s decision to create an office for fruits and vegetables to ensure fairness in the relations between buyers, sellers or distributors.

Europe will provide innovative measures in food quality schemes
The Commissioner also spoke about the developments in areas such as food quality schemes, promotion, innovation and employment. In coming months, we will announce some innovative measures to promote job creation in the sector, he said, after noting that he has held meetings with the European Investment Bank to explore mechanisms to improve the financing of farmers, specially the young ones.

In his opinion, the EU must attract innovators so they make their careers in the sector, thereby promoting agribusiness and environmental benefits for the population.

Regarding the promotion programs, he stressed that the EU funding had improved and that the money could now be used to advance campaigns for products, such as pasta and bread.

Reducing CAP regulations to only 50 regulations and making them less bureaucratic
Hogan showed his strong commitment to the simplification of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and said his goal was to reduce them from 200 to only 50 regulations, and to offset the volatility in the agricultural sector. He wants simple rules to reduce red tape and encourage competitiveness.

Hogan stressed that the food industry was strong and had the potential to play a leading role in the economic recovery of Europe. He also stated there were market opportunities for European agricultural products with an added value.

He has chosen to open the US market for European high quality products, under the treaty being negotiated with the EU, as well as other international destinations such as the Asian markets, and to eliminate health barriers for exports.

Meanwhile, the President of the Agricutural Cooperatives, Angel Villafranca, asked Hogan for his support to resize the cooperative; a formula he deems necessary to balance the forces in the food chain and to drive innovation and internationalization.

Villafranca has also demanded the PAC be easier to apply and understand. and that it provide the companies legal certainty.

Source: Agroinformación