EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices

Abstract:

The Code of Conduct for Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices is one of the first deliverables of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy and an integral part of its action plan. It sets out common aspirations and indicative actions which actors ‘between the farm and the fork’, such as food manufacturers, food service operators and retailers, can voluntarily align, commit and contribute to in support of the transition towards sustainable food systems.

Further information:

This Code contains voluntary commitments for action together with a monitoring and evaluation framework to measure progress. Two levels of commitments are included in the scheme:

• EU Associations - Set of seven objectives, each with its targets and indicative tools;
• Companies - Framework for frontrunners for ambitious commitments with measurable outcomes covering a wide range of areas.

The European Commission signalled openness to consider legislative measures if progress is deemed insufficient.

The process to develop the Code of Conduct started in December 2020. A High-level stakeholder event was held on 26 January 2021, where the Commission highlighted the importance of the Code as a tool to enable private actors to commit to take action to support the transition towards a sustainable food system. A number of other meetings gathering different stakeholders were organised from 23 February leading up to the publication of the Code in June 2021. The Code was formally launched on 5 July 2021.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

FoodDrinksEurope: Resources, 05/07/2021: FoodDrinksEurope signs EU Code of Conduct https://www.fooddrinkeurope.eu/resource/fooddrinkeurope-signs-eu-code-of-conduct/

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News

EurActiv, 26/01/2021: Commission launches plans for EU sustainability ‘code of conduct’ for food businesses https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/commission-launches-plans-for-eu-sustainability-code-of-conduct-for-food-businesses/

Food Navigator, 05/07/2021: Food industry unites behind Code of Conduct, but fault lines remain for food system transformation https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2021/07/05/Food-industry-unites-behind-Code-of-Conduct-but-fault-lines-remain-for-food-system-transformation

European Views, 05/07/2021: 65 EU Food Businesses Sign up to New Sustainability Code of Conduct https://www.european-views.com/2021/07/65-eu-food-businesses-sign-up-to-new-sustainability-code-of-conduct/

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Official

European Commission: Food Safety: Code of Conduct for Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices https://ec.europa.eu/food/horizontal-topics/farm-fork-strategy/sustainable-food-processing/code-conduct_en

European Commission: Press Release, 05/07/2021: Farm to Fork Strategy: 65 companies and associations sign the EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_3385

European Commission: Questions and Answers: the EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices (5 July 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/QANDA_21_3386

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