Future of organic and quality foods and how we can step up consumption

The EU Youth Test at the EESC is being applied to this opinion. National Youth Council of Slovenia was chosen by a group of interested youth organisations to represent all of them during the opinion-making process.

This opinion is part of the EESC pilot "Enlargement Candidate Members (ECM)" where representatives from Albania will take part in the study groups and in the Section meeting.

The Albanian representatives are: Mr. Endrit Kullaj (The Albanian Agribusiness Council (KASH), for Group I), Ms. Anisa Subashi (Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania – KSSH for Group II) and Ms. Evelina Azizaj  (Albanian Network for Rural Development, for Group III).

Key points

The EESC:
 

• emphasises the need for a cross-cutting EU food policy that integrates organic farming and quality schemes into environmental, health, climate and rural development strategies;
• believes that integrated measures such as reduced VAT, public procurement for quality products, advisory services and innovation are needed to support the sustainable development of the sector;
• states that it is essential to reinforce control systems, harmonise equivalence standards and implement digital traceability, especially for imports;
• emphasises that promotional campaigns should include food education, sustainable tourism and territorial branding, supported by specialised national agencies;
• believes that an EU strategy is recommended with minimum targets (e.g. 25% quality products in schools/hospitals/public institutions etc.), commercial partnerships and thematic campaigns;
• calls on the European Commission, to develop a harmonised fiscal solution applicable across all Member States, allowing for reduced VAT rates for quality products to improve consumer access, stimulate demand and support the transition to a sustainable food system;
• supports the implementation of CAP measures targeting young farmers, women, small family farms and those undergoing ecological transition and recommends that, in candidate countries, such support be provided through pre-accession funding instruments;
• believes that certification procedures should be harmonised and adapted for small producers, including group certification or digital models;
• recommends regulating terms such as ‘natural’ and ‘traditional’ and sanctioning misleading use of geographical symbols, especially for processed products;
• calls for EU quality standards and labels to be recognised and protected in global trade, thereby promoting a fair and sustainable food model.