Foodlaw-Reading
Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK
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Commission consultation, 16 February 2022
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Commission Call for Evidence: Application of EU health and environmental standards to imported agricultural and agri-food products A copy of this document is available on this site (click on image). The 'Call for Evidence' is available on the Commission site - see: Imports of agricultural and food products – applying EU health and environmental standards. The Feedback will close on the 16 March 2022. |
The following is the summary from the page and, below, the 'Political context' from the opening of the document.
Summary
This report will assess the rationale and legal feasibility of applying EU health and environmental standards to imported agricultural and agri-food products. Applying, for example:
- animal welfare standards
- processes and production methods.
It may also identify concrete initiatives to ensure better consistency in their application, in conformity with World Trade Organization rules.
Political Context
The Farm to Fork Strategy, published in May 2020 as part of the European Green Deal, aims to put food systems on a sustainable path. This was reiterated in the EU commitment at the September 2021 UN Food Systems Summit. In the context of the EU’s ambitions to lead sustainability efforts globally, increasing attention is being paid to how health, environmental and social aspects are addressed in EU trade rules and agreements. The February 2021 Trade Policy Review confirms these ambitions by putting sustainability at the heart of EU trade strategy for the coming years.
During the negotiations on the CAP reform (2021-2027), as part of the political agreement on 24-25 June 2021, the European Parliament and the Council requested a report assessing the rationale and legal feasibility of applying EU health and environmental standards (including animal welfare standards and processes and production methods) to imported agricultural and agri-food products. The report should identify concrete initiatives to ensure better consistency in the application of these standards in conformity with WTO rules. It should cover all relevant public policy areas including - but not limited to - the Common Agricultural Policy, health and food safety policy, environmental policy and the Common Commercial Policy.
