Activities of Barbara WEILER related to 2013/2091(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the food crisis, fraud in the food chain and the control thereof
Amendments (6)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Emphasises the global responsibility of the European Union and highlights in this regard the impact of a cap on biofuel from maize, rape, palm oil and soya as a proportion of total fuel consumption; calls on Member States to ratify the Additional Protocol to the UN’s International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in which the right to food is enshrined; expects binding rules to be agreed at European level as soon as possible as part of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive in order to curb speculation with food and agricultural land;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Draws attention to the urgent problem of land grabbing during a global food crisis and, accordingly, calls for the creation of a public European register in which every instance of land grabbing is recorded;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the Commission’s forthcoming implementing act on origin labelling of all meat and impact assessment on origin labelling for meat used as food ingredient; is concerned, however, that further legislation in this area may lead to increased costs for SMEs and consumers; SMEs should get financial support to cope with the additional expenses;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the fact that the Commission’s review on official controls provides for economical disincentive to fraud; stresses, however, that the penalties currently applied in the food sector are inappropriate to prevent fraud; urges, therefore, the Commission and the Member States to introduce stronger and more dissuasive sanctions and to provide for unannounced inspections at all stages of the food supply chain;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses the need for improved information flows to tackle food crime, e.g. creation of specialised crime units, better monitoring and data collection and co-ordinated internet surveillance structure;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is concerned that instances of fraud rarely lead to legal actions; highlights the need for improved cooperation between all relevant public authorities and the food operators, in particular where cross-border fraud is concerned; stresses the need to increase antifraud skills and to be proactive rather than reactive.; stresses the need to step up the resources available to food and veterinary authorities in particular so as to guarantee comprehensive monitoring and hence effective measures to combat food fraud;