Unfair commercial practices: bypassing producer organisations

Question for written answer  E-002398/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Eric Sargiacomo (S&D)

Strengthening the position of farmers in the value chain is one of the main objectives of the common agricultural policy (CAP).

Since 1996, the fruit and vegetable sector has been a forerunner in this regard: its producer organisations (POs) are powerful, as these are financed by their own operational programmes.

Although the latest reform of the CAP extended this possibility to all sectors, the French Government refuses to activate these provisions despite requests from POs, in particular from the dairy sector, where farmers are suffering from a structural imbalance with downstream actors.

Recently, Lactalis and Savencia, two major players in the dairy industry, have clearly sought to bypass POs by notifying member producers of milk collection suspension, or by using non-collection as a form of blackmail to force producers and POs to withdraw from a PO association.

In view of Article 153 of the Common Market Organisation (CMO) Regulation, such bypassing of producer organisations cannot be authorised under any circumstances.

Does the Commission intend to introduce a system of sanctions against such practices in the next review of the Directive on unfair commercial practices?

Submitted: 4.11.2024