Foodlaw-Reading
Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK
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Commission consultation, 28 September 2021
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Commission Inception Impact Assessment: Sustainable food system framework initiative A copy of the document is available on this site (click on image). For more details, see the consultation page at: Sustainable food system framework initiative. The consultation is open until 26 October 2021. |
The following is opening section from the Inception Impact Assessment:
Context
The ‘‘European Green Deal” resets the Commission’s commitment to tackling climate and environmental-related challenges. It is a growth strategy to transform the EU into a fairer and more prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050. It aims to protect, conserve and enhance the EU's natural capital, and protect the health and well-being of citizens from environment-related risks and impacts. The Commission’s response to the dramatic and unprecedented effects of the COVID-19 crisis also highlights that the recovery plan2 must guide and build a sustainable, more resilient and fairer Europe for the next generation.
In this context, the European Commission adopted a comprehensive Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system and the Biodiversity Strategy to bring nature back into our lives. The two strategies are mutually reinforcing, bringing together nature, farmers, business and consumers for jointly working towards a sustainable future.
More specifically, the Farm to Fork Strategy addresses comprehensively the challenges of sustainable food systems and recognises the inextricable links between healthy people, healthy societies and a healthy planet. It acknowledges that “a sustainable food system will be essential to achieve the climate, biodiversity and other environmental objectives of the Green Deal, while improving the incomes of primary producers and reinforcing the EU’s competitiveness”. The strategy is also central to the Commission’s contribution to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A shift to a sustainable food system can bring environmental, health and social benefits, offer economic gains and ensure that the recovery from the crisis puts us onto a sustainable path. The Farm to Fork Strategy has launched numerous individual actions, which should contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, preservation of biodiversity and rural livelihoods, reduction of pesticides use and risk and pressure on water quality, and better consumer information and animal welfare. At the same time, the Strategy recognises that the above-mentioned individual actions neither alone, nor in combination with each other have the potential to fully ensure policy coherence at EU and national level, mainstream sustainability in all food-related policies and strengthen the resilience of food systems. For this reason, the Farm to Fork Strategy has announced the adoption of a horizontal framework law, so as to accelerate and facilitate the transition and ensure that foods placed on the EU market increasingly become sustainable. Such an EU level intervention aims to establish new foundations for future food policies by introducing sustainability objectives and principles on the basis of an integrated food system approach.
The Strategy also announces a proposal for a sustainable food labelling framework to empower consumers to make sustainable food choices, which should be part of the EU level intervention.
