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.