Kumitat Ekonomiku u Socjali Ewropew
L-ikel huwa fiċ-ċentru ta’ ħajjitna u parti integrali mill-kultura Ewropea. Madankollu, l-ikel li nieklu, il-modi kif nipproduċuh u l-ammonti moħlija għandhom impatti kbar fuq is-saħħa tal-bniedem, ir-riżorsi naturali u s-soċjetà kollha kemm hi:
Il-kriżi tal-COVID-19 hija sinjal ta’ twissija li hija meħtieġa bidla. Il-kriżi wriet li l-kisba tal-ikel “mill-għalqa sal-platt” ma tistax titqies bħala ħaġa ovvja u wriet ukoll l-interkonnettività tal-atturi u tal-attivitajiet tul is-sistema tal-ikel kollha. Ktajjen tal-provvista ġusti, effiċjenti fl-użu tar-riżorsi, inklużivi u sostenibbli fis-settur agrikolu u tal-ikel kollu huma meħtieġa aktar minn qatt qabel biex iwasslu servizzi b’mod ugwali liċ-ċittadini, lill-bdiewa, lill-ħaddiema u lin-negozji.
Il-KESE ilu snin fuq quddiem nett fis-sejħa għal politika dwar l-ikel sostenibbli u komprensiva. Approċċ integrat u sistemiku bħal dan huwa essenzjali biex jiindirizza l-isfidi multipli u interkonnessi li jaffettwaw is-sistemi tal-ikel; iwassal għal sostenibbiltà ekonomika, ambjentali u soċjokulturali; jiżgura l-integrazzjoni u l-koerenza bejn l-oqsma ta’ politika (bħall-agrikoltura, l-ambjent, is-saħħa, l-edukazzjoni, il-kummerċ, l-ekonomija, it-teknoloġija, eċċ.); u jippromovi l-kooperazzjoni fil-livelli kollha ta’ governanza.
The upcoming Slovenian Presidency of the EU has requested the Committee to draw up an exploratory opinion on the effective achievement of the Directive’s objectives in practice, on Member States’ best practices in regulating the agri-food chain, as well as on the steps needed so that this process does not come to a halt.
The SUD can play a central role in the European Green Deal framework, being crucial to the Commission's Farm-to-Fork strategy for shifting to a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system, and complementary to both the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Zero Pollution Strategy.
The own-initiative opinion aims to analyse the link between current food systems and diet-related diseases; identify policies, tools and instruments that are needed to foster healthier diets both on the supply and demand side.
The Commission is proposing a targeted revision of the General Food Law Regulation coupled with the revision of eight pieces of sectoral legislation, to bring them in line with the general rules and strengthen transparency in the area of GMOs, feed additives, smoke flavourings, food contact materials, food additives, food enzymes and flavourings, plant protection products and novel foods.
The Commission's initiative follows one of the recommendations of the Agricultural Markets Task Force that the EU should legislate in the areas of UTPs for agricultural products, and responds to some of the conclusions of the 2016 EESC opinion on "A fairer food supply chain".
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - The Future of Food and Farming