41 Amendments of Salvatore DE MEO related to 2020/2260(INI)
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the fact that the aim of the Farm to Fork Strategy is to establish a sustainable, healthy and resilient food system which benefits consumers and all players in the food supply chain in the EU;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that promoting healthy and sustainable food consumption calls for changes to diets, production systems and internal trade, but also public education campaigns about food, starting with primary schools;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission to step up its support for regionalsustainable food systems and short supply chains, which act as a source of fresh, sustainable and better quality products for consumer, where possible, supply chains that reduce the steps from farm to fork, improving the position of farmers in the supply chain and providing consumers with greater access to sustainable products; takes the view that legislation on European public procurement should be revised in order to foster local, high-quality food supply systems, through the key role of public administrations in the promotion of, and demand for, sustainable products in the mass catering sector, where priority should be given to organic, traditional and typical products of protected geographical origin from a short supply chain;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the Commission to take into account the role played by wholesale agri-food centres as the natural crossroads of supply and demand, which serve to guarantee the short supply chain and transparency of pricing and food safety in the interests of producers, distributors and consumers;
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Urges the Commission to promote alternative business models, such asencourage partnerships between operators in the food supply chain, notably farmers, and to promote business models, such as producer organisations, business networks and consumer-friendly cooperative schemes;
Amendment 79 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Supports the establishment of a governance framework and a code of conduct for food and retail, retail and wholesale businesses, in order to make them accountable and aware of the importance of sustainability and health; stresses that this framework should take account of the environmental, economic and social sustainability of all players in the supply chain and urges the Commission, in this regard, to ensure the effective implementation of the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive;
Amendment 93 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the Commission’s initiative to promote healthier diets by introducing nutritional profiles, accompanied by mandatory and harmonised labelling of the nutritional value of foods on the front of packaging; through consumer education campaigns and activities providing information on the importance of a varied and balanced diet that does not preclude any food, provided that it is consumed in the right amount and frequency, and that is accompanied by adequate physical activity; supports the Commission’s proposal to introduce a harmonised system for front-of-pack (FoP) labelling based on concrete scientific evidence and supported by accurate impact assessments, which would be a voluntary, informative and non-discriminatory scheme in line with the principles of Article 35 of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011;
Amendment 105 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Welcomes the Commission’s initiative to harmonise the supplementary nutrition labelling systems on the front of packaging, provided that these are voluntary, are based on the portions that are actually consumed and eschew simplistic solutions that could influence consumers’ decisions, as opposed to providing them with information on actual nutritional intake and balanced diets;
Amendment 120 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Regards it as essential, further, to keep consumers better informed by introducing mandatory origin labelling of food, which would be broadened and the origin of the raw materials used to produce it, providing solutions that preserve the integrity of the internal market and are based on appropriate impact assessments; considers that such labelling could be broadened on a voluntary basis and on the basis of common rules to cover animal welfare, sustainability and pesticide residue levels that go beyond the minimum legal requirements;
Amendment 137 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls for an evaluation of the labelling requirements for animal welfare, sustainability and pesticide residue levels, taking account of the need to safeguard the economic sustainability of European farms;
Amendment 151 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls, with a view to protecting consumers, for full enforcement of the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 25 July 2018 in Case C-528/16, Confédération paysanne, which stipulates that food crops modified by genome editAgrees on the need to maintain farmers’ incomes by using appropriate tools and secure methods to protect crops from pests and diseases; stresses that these tools need to be available and that, if removed, they must ing are subject to the requirements of GMO legislation, including risk assessment, traceability and labellingll cases be replaced with tools that are equally as effective and cost-efficient;
Amendment 156 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls for authorisations for the approval of plant protection products to be undertaken at EU level in an effort to fully harmonise standards;
Amendment 168 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Supports the Commission in its efforts to combat food fraud, which misleads consumers and distorts competition in the internal market, and; regards it as essential to make the penalties imposed on fraudsters more dissuasive and, to earmark sufficient resources so that checks can be stepped up and to establish a legal definition at EU level of the concepts of ‘food fraud and crime’ and ‘counterfeiting’;
Amendment 179 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls for more effective implementation of Directive 2005/29/EC1, in order to better address the problem of misleading environmental claims in food, in particular when concluding distance contracts in online markets; __________________ 1 Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business-to- consumer commercial practices in the internal market and amending Council Directive 84/450/EEC, Directives 97/7/EC, 98/27/EC and 2002/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 149, 11.6.2005, p. 22).
Amendment 187 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Considers it necessary to place environmental and social sustainability at the core of future EU trade policy and every bilateral trade agreement in order to give substance to the Farm to Fork Strategy;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the Farm to Fork Strategy and the European production system must guarantee food supply in all circumstances, taking into account not only environmental sustainability but also economic and social sustainability;
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the European model of a multifunctional agricultural sector, driven by family farms, continues to ensure quality food production, local supply chains, good agriculture practices, protection of the hydrogeology of the land, high environmental standards and vibrant rural areas throughout the EU; an agri-food sector driven by micro and small enterprises at all stages of the supply chain, from processing to retail, contributes to this; underlines, further, the active role of farmers not only in food production but also in maintaining and managing the land, counteracting, too, the depopulation of rural areas;
Amendment 327 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the multifunctional agricultural model also ensures that age- old traditions, cultures and identities with a high intangible value are passed on; whereas this has enormous economic potential, for example in the field of rural tourism, and generates positive social effects, involving disadvantaged categories with low contractual power in the production chain (social agriculture);
Amendment 423 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the European agricultural and food system hasve played a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating its resilience with farmers, processors, distributors and retailers working together under difficult conditions, including lockdowns, to ensure that European consumers continue to have access to safe, affordable, and high quality products without impediment;
Amendment 447 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the EU’s Green Deal strategy seeks to ensure decent living conditions for farmers, fishers and their families;
Amendment 466 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. having regard to the results obtained from the implementation of the environmental standards currently in force;
Amendment 537 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Urges the Commission to conduct a cumulative impact assessment of the strategy to ensure that it is sustainable in environmental, economic and social terms;
Amendment 538 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Invites the Commission to put not only environmental but also economic and social sustainability at the heart of the strategy; requests that a priori judgements disregarding the reality that every sector has more or less sustainable production methods be avoided;
Amendment 542 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls for all the targets and content of the strategy to be based on scientific data;
Amendment 591 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the announcement of an impact-assessed proposal for a legislative framework for sustainable food systems; invites the Commission to use this proposal to set out a holistic common food policy aimed at reducing the environmental and climate footprint of the EU food system in order to make Europe the first climate- neutral continent by 2050 and strengthen its resilience to ensure food security in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, leading a global transition towards economic, environmental and social sustainability from farm to fork, based on the principle of a multifunctional agricultural sector while ensuring consistency between policies by taking into account the existing legislation in order to enable all actors in the European food system to develop long-term plans based on realistic and transparent objectives; suggests that the respective base lines and progress achieved in each Member State be taken into account, while promoting the exchange of know-how and best practices between Member States; stresses the need to include the entire food and beverage chains including processing, marketing, distribution and retailwholesale and retail marketing, storage, transport and logistics, disposal and recycling of secondary materials;
Amendment 640 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Urges the Commission not to forget the key role that young farmers will have to play in accomplishing this much- needed transition to sustainable farming; calls for measures designed to support income, generational renewal and training to create a space enabling the inclusion and retention of young people in agriculture;
Amendment 686 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Building the food chain that works for consumers, producers, distributors, climate and the environment
Amendment 780 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Highlights the fact that in recent years farmers have found themselves more and more often facing the damaging effects of climate change and the frequent arrival of new invasive species from other parts of the world, with very serious consequences for production; highlights, in addition, that in order to balance crop protection and the gradual elimination of conventional protection tools, new solutions need to be made available as a matter of urgency (whilst being aware of the complexity and costs of the testing and validation process), through investment in the search for active substances with a lower environmental impact that are equally effective in protecting production, and by incentivising new technologies such as precision agriculture and genome editing that would open up significant new possibilities for the genetic improvement of plants of agricultural interest, including native varieties, and by promoting mutual models for repairing damage to production; highlights the fact, furthermore, that compliance with the directives on antibiotics and animal welfare, as well as adopting measures going beyond the basic provisions, has made it possible to decrease significantly the use of veterinary antibiotics, but at the same time has been a huge economic burden, often not accompanied by any recognition on the part of the market of the higher intrinsic value of products resulting from the new rules; states that while on the one hand reviewing the rules, and thus implementing even more stringent criteria, should presumably result in the attainment of the positive targets set, such as a further improvement in animal health and thus a further decrease in the use of antimicrobials, on the other hand it will certainly have decidedly negative consequences such as those linked to further unsustainable economic burdens on businesses; argues, therefore, that as well as recognising the efforts that have already been made it should be ensured that these targets are linked to the availability of commensurate predictable resources to be allocated for compliance with the new provisions;
Amendment 902 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises the importance of recognising the significant impact of certain systems of agricultureal and especially animal production and the associated logistics on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and land use; stresses the need to enhance natural carbon sinks and reduce agricultural emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, in particular in the feed and livestock sectors; calls for regulatory measures and targets to ensure progressive reductions in all GHG emissions in these sectors; emphasises the role of nutrient management plans in reducing emissions, by means of consultancy services and technological innovations such as precision farming, which enables rational use of technical resources; calls for regulatory measures and targets to ensure progressive reductions in all GHG emissions in these sectors; stresses the importance of recognising the efforts made by the agri-food sector to offset emissions and of including financial support and compensation for initiatives aimed at reducing emissions and restoring soil fertility;
Amendment 1049 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls for the implementation of modern indoor livestock rearing facilities and techniques that ensure the supply of food of animal origin required by the EU population while also contributing to reducing emissions, combating climate change and respecting animal welfare;
Amendment 1101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the notion of rewarding farmers for carbon sequestration in soils using public resources other than those allocated for the CAP; stresses, however, that intensive and industrial agriculture and farming models with negative impacts on biodiversity should not receive climate funding or be incentivised; calls for the proposals to be in line with the environmental objectives and the ‘do no harm’ principle of the Green Deal;
Amendment 1214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for CAP National Strategic Plans to ensure adequate financial support and incentives to promote the green transition for all advanced local logistics platforms, classified by the Member States as strategic public-interest structures for the concentration, processing and wholesale distribution of agri-food production, and new ecological ‘green’ business models for agriculture and artisanal food production, notably through fostering short supply chains and quality food production, through options such as modern local logistics ‘green hubs’;
Amendment 1273 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls for all of the various sustainable production methods, such as organic and integrated production and other recognised systems that make it possible to protect the EU region, society and consumers, to be exploited, promoted and supported, as they combine environmental sustainability, increasing the total land area under cultivation, with environmentally friendly systems. It is also important to give adequate consideration to the role of voluntary quality schemes, for example by continuing the regulation activities initiated by the European Commission;
Amendment 1382 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Expresses its deep concern about the emergence of zoonotic diseases that are transferred from animals to humans (anthropozoonoses), such as Q fever, avian influenza and the new strain of influenza A (H1N1), which is exacerbated by anthropogenic climate change, the destruction of biodiversity, environmental degradation and our current less innovative food production systems, which are deficient in terms of good health and biosecurity practices;
Amendment 1469 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Urges the Commission to follow up on Directive (EU) 2019/633 on unfair trading practices22 and the EU code of conduct on responsible business and marketing practices by producing a monitoring framework for the food and retail and wholesale sectors and providing for legal action if progress in integrating economic, environmental and social sustainability into corporate strategies is insufficient, and in so doing promoting and rewarding the efforts of sustainable agricultural producers while increasing the availability and affordability of healthy, sustainable food options and reducing the overall environmental footprint of the food system; stresses the importance of halting and addressing consolidation and concentration in the grocery retail sector in order to ensure fair prices for farmers; calls for consumers to be brought closer to fresh local products by means of local wholesale logistics facilities that promote traceability, food safety and price transparency from farm to fork; stresses the importance of halting and addressing consolidation and concentration in the grocery retail sector in order to ensure fair prices that take into account production costs and promote distribution through wholesale agri-food markets (Food Hubs) as models that promote fair competition and guarantee fair and affordable prices for all links in the supply chain; _________________ 22 OJ L 111, 25.4.2019, p. 59.
Amendment 1528 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Urges the review of the EU promotion programme for agricultural and food products, including the EU school scheme, with a view to enhancing its contribution to sustainable production and consumption, notably by focusing on educational messages about the importance of healthy nutrition and lifestyle and promoting greater consumption of fruit and vegetables and a varied and balanced diet, with the aim of reducing obesity rates; calls for all agricultural products to be included in the EU promotion policy so that support can be guaranteed for all production sectors and they can be made more sustainable, contributing to enhanced overall production and sustainable consumption;
Amendment 1679 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls for measures to reduce the burden that highly processed foods with high salt, sugar and fat content place on public health;regrets that the introduction of nutrient profiles is greatly delayed and stresses that a robust set of nutrient profiles must be developed to restrict or prohibit the use of false nutritional claims on foods high in fats, sugars and/or saltpromote healthier diets through consumer awareness campaigns and activities providing information on the importance of a varied and balanced diet in which food is consumed in the right amount and is accompanied by adequate physical activity; calls for a mandatoryharmonised EU-wide front-of- pack nutrition labelling system that is based on independent science and on the principles of Article 35 of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, and that is voluntary, informative, non- discriminatory and supported by thorough impact assessments;
Amendment 1735 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to revise the EU legislation on food contact materials (FCM); reiterates its call to revise the legislation on FCM in line with the regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restrictionbased on the scientific work of cthemicals (REACH) EFSA, as well as classification, labelling and packaging regulations, and to insert, without further delay, specific provisions to substitute endocrine disrupting chemicals;
Amendment 1858 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Highlights the recognition in the strategy that Europeans’ diets are not in line with recommendations for healthy eating, and that a population-wide shift in consumption patterns is needed towards more healthy and plant-basedCalls on the Commission to promote eating patterns that lead to the adoption of varied diets (where all foods cand less red and processed meat, sugars, salt, and fats, which will also benef be consumed in the right quantities and with the environment; emphasises that EU-wide guidelines forright frequency) that are balanced and sustainable, and healthy diets would bring clarity to consumers on what constitutes a healthy and sustainable diet and inform Member States’ own efforts to integrate sustainability elements in national dietary advice; calls on the Commission to develop such guidelines and specific actions to effectively promote healthy plant-based dietsdapted to the specific needs of each consumer, while recognising and protecting the heritage of the different eating habits, traditions, preferences and production methods of EU countries and the businesses that represent them;
Amendment 1973 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls for a revision of public procurement legislation, including minimum mandatory criteria in schools and other public institutions to encourage organic and local food production of traditional and typical foods with geographical indications, from short supply chains, and to promote more healthy diets by creating a food environment that enables consumers to make the healthy, informed and sustainable choices;
Amendment 2027 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Reiterates its call to take the measures required to achieve a Union food waste reduction target of 30 % by 2025 and 50 % by 2030 compared to the 2014 baseline; underlines that bindingproportionate and realistic targets are needed to achieve this, taking as an example the surplus recovery projects already successfully launched in agri-food wholesale centres;