Presented by Benjamin Vallin, DG Enterprise and Industry, European Commission, at the 1st Meeting of the Food and Beverages Processing Expert Group, OECD Investment Compact for South East Europe. 4 March 2014, Paris, France.

1. The High Level
Forum for a
Better
Functioning Food
Supply Chain
Benjamin Vallin
DG Enterprise and Industry
Unit F4 | Food & Healthcare industries,
Biotechnology
Enterprise
and
Industry
Food and Beverages Processing Expert Group
OECD, Paris, 4 March 2014

2. Food and beverages in the EU
Huge market
Over 500 million consumers
15% household expenses (21% with catering)
Major role in EU
economy
17 million companies and agric. holdings
No. 1 EU
manufacturing
sector
in value added and turnover (EUR 1 trillion)
EU = No. 1 on global
agri-food markets
19% of total agri-food export flows
6% of EU GDP
in employment (4.2 million)
Share is decreasing
Enterprise
and
Industry
2

3. Timeline
2008
2009
2010
2012
2013
2014
• High Level Group on Competitiveness
• Recommendations, followed by a Commission Communication
• High Level Forum for a Better Functioning Food Supply Chain
• Report on roadmap implementation, recommendations for further action
• Mandate extended until end-2014
• Final report
Enterprise
and
Industry

4. Timeline
2008
2009
2010
2012
2013
2014
• High Level Group on Competitiveness
• Recommendations, followed by a Commission Communication
• High Level Forum for a Better Functioning Food Supply Chain
• Report on roadmap implementation, recommendations for further action
• Mandate extended until end-2014
• Final report
Enterprise
and
Industry

5. High level group on the competitiveness
of the food industry
Task:
Identify the factors that influence the competitive
position and sustainability of the food industry
Formulate a set of sector-specific recommendations
Enterprise
and
Industry

6. Membership
Ministers
NGOs
Farmers
Commission
Trade
unions
Traders
Manufacturers
Enterprise
and
Industry

7. A vision for the food & drink industry
 The creation of a highly competitive European food
industry that is a world leader in providing consumers
with a wide variety of sustainable, safe, nutritious and
high-quality food commodities at affordable prices.
Enterprise
and
Industry

8. Integrated approach
Trade &
exports
Research
and
innovation
Operation
of the food
chain
Internal
market for
food
Agriculture
& environment
Enterprise
and
Industry

9. Results
30 recommendations (March 2009)
 Addressed to all stakeholders
Roadmap of Key Initiatives (July 2009)
 Clear time line for implementation
Commission Communication 'a better functioning
food supply chain in Europe' (Oct. 2009)
 Commission's initiatives
Enterprise
and
Industry

10. Timeline
2008
2009
2010
2012
2013
2014
• High Level Group on Competitiveness
• Recommendations, followed by a Commission Communication
• High Level Forum for a Better Functioning Food Supply Chain
• Report on roadmap implementation, recommendations for further action
• Mandate extended until end-2014
• Final report
Enterprise
and
Industry

11. High Level For for a Better Functioning
Food Supply Chain
Task:
Help with the development of industrial policy in the
food sector
Advise on the implementation of the 2009 roadmap
of key initiatives and Commission Communication
Enterprise
and
Industry

12. 2012 report
Priorities for
continued work
Roadmap 80%
implemented
Enterprise
and
Industry

13. Examples of outcomes
Recommendation
Result
Address relationships along the food supply Self-regulatory initiative
chain with a view to adopt an EU-wide code on B2B trading practice
of conduct
launched
European sectoral dialogue as a tool of
good governance
Sectoral social dialogue
committee established
Improve impact assessments to better take Guidance developped
into account the effects on the chain and
and broadly used in
on small and medium-sized companies
Commission assessments
Tackle the issues of asyncrhonous
authorisation of GMOs
Technical solution for low
level presence in feed
Ensure proper implementation of EU food
legislation by Member States
New and updated
guidance; trainings
Enterprise
and
Industry

14. Current priorities
Business-to-business trading practice
Fitness check & the regulatory fitness programme
Sustainable food
Price monitoring
New/upcoming challenges (food taxes…)
Expo Milano 2015
Enterprise
and
Industry
14

15. In summary…
EU food prices monitoring
tool
Self-regulatory initiative
on B2B trading practices
Interaction with many
policy developments
Duration extended twice
Process
Outcomes
Structured social dialogue
in EU food industry
Membership expanded
twice, from 28 to 45
Joint work by private
stakeholders
Interest from other EU
institutions
etc.
Enterprise
and
Industry
15

16. Thank you for your
attention!
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/food/com
petitiveness/forum_food/
Enterprise
and
Industry