Activities of Richard ASHWORTH related to 2015/2065(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on unfair trading practices in the food supply chain
Amendments (18)
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Highlights the important role the consumer, as the driver of demand, holds in the supply chain and stresses that in an open and competitive market producers and processers must innovate and add value to their products to meet ever changing and growing demands;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Stresses the importance of supply-side cooperation through groupings, such as Producer Organisations (POs), in strengthening the position and bargaining power of producers in the supply chain;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Urges producers, along with processors, to work together to invest in innovation and to increase the added value of their products;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points toAcknowledges the limitations of the Supply Chain Initiative (SCI), and specifically the absence of farmers' organisations owing to lack of trust, restriction of anonymous complaints, absence of meaningful mechanisms to adequately combat well- documented unfair trading practices (UTPs), and, in particular, the lack of enforcement measures and sanctions;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Agrees with the Commission's position that a single "one size fits all" solution to address the issue of UTPs is not the best way forward for a competitive and fair supply chain;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Reminds the Commission that the European Parliament's own initiative report adopted in December 2013 called on the Commission to examine the need and possibility of independent enforcement to address the so-called 'fear factor' among primary producers in the supply chain; urges the Commission to consider this in its own report;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Doubts whether voluntary initiatives are adequateBelieves that a common understanding of rules and a common set of principles of best practice, combined with light touch action in national law by Member States, offers the best model within an open and competitive market for addressing UTPs and the acknowledged ‘fear factor’ in the supply chain arising from the imbalance of power between farmers and retailers;
Amendment 78 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that where legislation is required, a light-touch approach should be implemented, with preference given for an approach based on commonly agreed best practice, and notes that the practice of "forum shopping" must be prevented through greater cooperation between the Member State enforcement authorities;
Amendment 96 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. QuestionAcknowledges the Commission’s unwavering support for the SCI, given the reluctance of farm and notes that commonly unders to participate; regrets the pre-emptive conclusion that regulatory action at EU level is not foreseenod best practice combined with light touch legislation to ensure a consistent approach across the Internal Market offers the best model for farmers and for the sector overall;
Amendment 108 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Commission to assess the SCI in terms of effectiveness, taking into account concerns cited by the farming community; cautions the Commission to avoid assessing the voluntary initiative based solely on the number of registered participants;
Amendment 112 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that several Member States have initiated actions in national law to address the concerns of primary producers regarding the negative impact of UTPs; asks the Commission to assess these national efforts with a view to selectidentifying best practices for application at EU level; notes in particular the Groceries Code Adjudicator in the UK as a potential model for adaptaother Member States to adapt, taking into consideration their national market conditions at EU levelnd specifities;
Amendment 132 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Notes in particular the UK Groceries Code, which imposes on retailers the principle of fair dealing with suppliers, supported by an independent Adjudicator with powers of enforcement and tools such as "naming and shaming," as a potential model for best practice and adaptation by other Member States;
Amendment 133 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that enforcement powers implemented at national level must be proportionate and factor in the impact on the market and on consumer interests;
Amendment 158 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. BelievNotes that framework legislation at EU level is essential, which ensures consistency of approach across the Member States, would be an option to tackle UTPs and to address their negative consequences for farmers; urges the Commission to consider this when assessing the SCI;
Amendment 170 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Argues that such legislationwhere essential, light touch legislation, at the appropriate level, coupled with a common understanding on the principles of best practice, would complement the SCI and protect stakeholders who are fully engaged with the Initiative, while ensuring that UTPs are eradicated from the food supply chain and providing primary producers with the necessary legal certainty to address their concerns.
Amendment 191 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Urges all parties in the food supply chain to consider standard contracts and also new generation contracts where risks and benefits are shared;
Amendment 194 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 e (new)
Paragraph 7 e (new)
7e. Underlines the importance of market information tools, such as the European Price Monitoring tool and the Milk Market Observatory, to improve transparency across supply chain to increase market intelligence regarding pricing practices and distribution of profit margins;
Amendment 195 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 f (new)
Paragraph 7 f (new)
7f. Stresses that cooperation between national authorities is essential to ensure coherent enforcement and cross border fairness to benefit the producer and the consumer;