World Grain - January 2019 - 12

NEWSREVIEW

E.U. political agreement formed to create fair trading practices
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - The European Parliament, the now be protected against all bigger operators acting unfairly
Council and the Commission reached a political agreement on and outside the rules."
a new set of rules that will ensure protection of 100% of E.U.
The agreement will apply to anyone involved in the food
producers and a large majority of E.U. agri-food companies supply chain with a turnover of €350 million with differentiagainst practices contrary to good faith and fair dealing.
ated levels of protection provided below that threshold. The
The new European law will cover agricultural and food new rules will cover retailers, food processors, wholesalers,
SURGXFWVWUDGHGLQWKHIRRGVXSSO\FKDLQEDQQLQJIRUWKH¿UVW cooperatives or producers' organizations, or a single productime up to 16 unfair trading practices imposed unilaterally by er who would be engaging in any of the unfair trade pracone trading partner on another. Other practices only will be WLFHVLGHQWL¿HG
permitted if subject to a clear and unambiguous upfront agreeThe unfair trading practices to be banned include: late payment between the parties involved.
ments for perishable food products; last minute order cancellaThe European Commission had tabled its legislative pro- tions; unilateral or retroactive changes to contracts; forcing the
posal in April 2018 to ensure more fairness in the food chain supplier to pay for wasted products and refusing written contracts.
and provide a minimum protection across the E.U. This is the
In the course of the public consultation conducted by the
¿UVW WLPH WKDW (8 OHYHO OHJLVODWLRQ ZLOO EH LPSOHPHQWHG LQ Commission before presenting the proposal, consumer orgathis area. The new framework grants member states the au- nizations encouraged the regulation of these practices because
thority to enforce the new rules and impose sanctions in case of their negative effect on consumers in the longer term.
of established infringements.
"An important element of the directive is that member
³7RGD\¶VDJUHHPHQWSDYHVWKHZD\IRUD¿UVWWLPH(8ODZ states can introduce a higher scope above €350 million in their
WKDWSURYLGHVVLJQL¿FDQWSURWHFWLRQIRUDOO(8IDUPHUVWKHLU national legislation or take further measures, should they so
organizations as well as small and mid-range businesses," wish," the Commission said. "The agreement also includes
said Phil Hogan, commissioner for Agriculture and Rural a review clause set at four years, which means that the pro'HYHORSPHQWDWWHQGLQJWKH¿QDOQHJRWLDWLQJPHHWLQJZLWKWKH visions of the legislative text will have to be evaluated and
European Parliament and Council representatives. "They will possibly reviewed during the course of the next parliamentary mandate."
Member states will designate authorities in charge of enforcing the new
rules, including the ability to impose
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to address concerns about possible reRadarTrackTM is an advanced non-contact radar level
taliation. The Commission will set up
sensor for all powders, liquids and bulk commodities.
a coordination mechanism between
RadarTrack sensors are ideal for high-precision
enforcement authorities to enable the
continuous level sensing of granular and powder
product in hopper or flat bottom, round, square and
exchange of best practice.
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interstice bins and silos.
A recent E.U.-wide opinion poll pubApplicable Industries: Grain, Food, Cement and
lished in February 2018 shows that a vast
Aggregates, Plastics, Processed Wood and others.
majority of respondents (88%) considers
that strengthening farmers' role in the
RadarTrackTM in action
food supply chain is important. NinetyAccurate, fast and maintenance free
six percent of the respondents to the 2017
Maximum Range of 131' (40m) or 328' (100m)
public consultation on the modernization
Optimized 78 Ghz and narrow 4 beam.
of the CAP agreed with the proposition
Integrates easily with the SafeTrack and RadarTrackk
that improving farmers' position in the
monitoring software, Andoid app, PLCs and panel-displays.
value chain including addressing UTPs
Wireless options for cost saving SafeTrack integration.
Extremely rugged and sealed design for total reliability.
should be an objective of the E.U.'s
Hazardous Location Approvals: CSA Class II Div 1 Grp E, F, G;
Common Agricultural Policy.
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Following the Dec. 19 agreement,
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a vote will take place in the European
Parliament and the Council to formally
endorse the text. Once fully adopted,
member states will have to transpose
INCORPORATED
417 Wards Corner Rd., Loveland, OH, 45140
513-398-2500 800-659-8250
the new legislative text into their nainfo@safegrain.com
www.safegrain.com
tional law.

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I N C O R P O R AT E D

January 2019 / World Grain / www.World-Grain.com

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World Grain - January 2019

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