Co-ops and farmers urge below-cost ban

European co-ops and farmers have called for legislation to stamp out unfair and abusive practices in the food chain.

Copa-Cogeca said at a debate hosted by MEP Sofia Ribeiro in the European Parliament that below-cost selling has to stop. Secretary-general Pekka Pesonen said the EU Commission published a Communication on Unfair Trading Practices almost a year ago.

However, it failed to assume its responsibilities — that is, propose an EU- wide approach.“Instead, member states are encouraged to follow their own approaches, leading to fragmentation and different policies from market to market,” he said.

“The agri-food sector will be the driver for sustainable growth in the future but only if we have fairness and transparency in food supply chains,” said IFA president Eddie Downey, chairman of a Copa-Cogeca working party.