Farmers will be relieved to learn that the campaign to legislate on unfair trading practices is still alive and well. Following the parliament vote and task force report, momentum had changed from leaving to member states or voluntary arrangements to a more proactive approach. Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal on Monday evening, Commissioner Hogan was content that taking the taskforce report forward was very much part of the Commission work programme for 2017, saying that when 20 member states feel the need to do something separately, it was time to look at the issue from and EU angle.

The Council agreed “that the Commission and member states could put in place to guarantee, among others, that risks are shared more equally along the supply chain, contractualisation is enhanced, and market transparency and risk management improved.”

The conclusions also called on the Commission to undertake an impact assessment with a view to proposing an EU legislative framework or other non-legislative measures to address unfair trading practices. The latter clause provided sufficient wriggle room to allow member states less enthusiastic about legislation to stay on board.

Climate change discussion

The Council also discussed the agricultural aspects of the Commission proposals for an effort-sharing regulation (ESR) and a regulation on land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) regulation. These are intended to frame the contribution that agriculture will deliver to the reduction in GHG emissions agreed at COP 21 in Paris.

Irish Agriculture Minister Michael Creed highlighted that a third of our emissions come from agriculture compared to an EU average of 10%, and that the sector has already achieved a high level of efficiency, meaning there is limited potential for further cost-effective mitigation. He also said that the current proposals would mean a significant cost for Ireland to reach its 2030 target.

Listen to an interview with Minister Creed on unfair trading practices and climate change targets in our podcast below:

Minister Creed also expressed disappointment that the current LULUCF proposal uses a land-based accounting system which fails to adequately recognise the significant sequestration arising from afforestation.

Organic standards

The EU Commission has had a strengthening of Organic standards legislation on the table since 2014 and it had been an ambition to get it over the line during the Slovakian Presidency. However, since the proposals were first mooted, they generated considerable opposition throughout the EU with the belief that tightening the rules would push organic producers out, rather than encourage new participants. The Commission view was that strengthening of the legislation was necessary to maintain credibility.

At the press briefing hosted by Commissioner Hogan and Council President Gabriela Matecná, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development of Slovakia, a brave face was put forward on the failure to get it over the line. Commissioner Hogan focused on the levels of agreement achieved under the Slovakian Presidency, highlighting that 40 out of the 45 key issues had been agreed.

Both parties expressed confidence that the Maltese Presidency would bring the issue to a close early in 2017.

Other issues

Ministers also received an update on plant breeders rights, the implementation of a new regulation on protective measures against plant pests, and the outcome of the first meeting of the EU platform on food waste and food losses.

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Listen: Ireland supports legislation on unfair trading practices at EU Council