{"id":1261452,"date":"2024-03-28T11:50:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-28T11:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.agriland.ie\/?p=1261452"},"modified":"2024-03-28T11:16:59","modified_gmt":"2024-03-28T11:16:59","slug":"emb-a-lot-more-to-be-done-in-eu-to-improve-producer-positions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lightsail.agriland.ie\/farming-news\/emb-a-lot-more-to-be-done-in-eu-to-improve-producer-positions\/","title":{"rendered":"EMB: ‘A lot more’ to be done in EU to improve producer positions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The European Milk Board (EMB) has said that there is “still a lot more that should be done” to strengthen producer positions in the food supply chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following months of farming protests<\/a> throughout Europe, the commission presented a reflection paper this month with a range of short, medium and longer-term measures to improve farmers positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EMB said that the paper is the “first step in the right direction”, but added recommendations to improve each proposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Farmers are in a critical situation and real improvements on this front should be Europe\u2019s utmost priority,” the board stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Producer proposals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the proposals looks at setting up an observatory to monitor production costs, margins and trade practices in the EU food supply chain, where the commission, Member States and farmers would all be involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EMB said such an observatory “is necessary”, but should be actively involved and “not simply be limited to being a talk shop”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another proposal looks at strengthening provisions on contracts at EU level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EMB stated that contracts must be fit for purpose and accessible to all farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It added that there is also a need for EU legislation on contracts that stipulates that producer prices must compulsorily be higher than production costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another proposal looks at strengthening producer organisations and their associations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EMB welcomed this proposal, but said it must be made under the following conditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n