The European Parliament’s lead negotiator on new food-chain rules, Céline Imart, will brief journalists on Tuesday at 17:30 following a plenary vote on legislation intended to strengthen farmers’ bargaining position in the food supply chain, the Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development announced.
The briefing comes after MEPs approved a set of measures designed to rebalance relations between farmers and downstream actors such as processors, wholesalers and retailers. The parliamentary committee, which drew up the text, said the legislation aims to give farmers a “stronger position” in commercial relationships that shape prices, contracts and the distribution of risk across the supply chain.
Why this matters
The European Union’s food supply chain has been the subject of repeated scrutiny by policymakers who say farmers often lack leverage when negotiating contracts and face volatility in input and output prices. Rules that change contractual practices and transparency requirements can affect incomes on farms, the cost of food for consumers, and the competitive dynamics of agribusiness across the single market.
For member states, the measures have implications for national agricultural policy and rural economies. Greater contractual protections for producers could strengthen farm incomes in parts of the EU where agriculture is a major employer, while retailers and processors may face new compliance obligations. The laws also touch on EU-wide objectives for fair competition and market functioning within the single market.
What the Parliament approved
The announcement from the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development did not include the detailed provisions of the approved text, but indicated the general purpose: to give farmers more negotiating power in the food supply chain. The committee’s role as rapporteur means it steered Parliament’s position through committee discussions and into the plenary vote.
Céline Imart, the appointed rapporteur, will present the outcome and likely explain next steps, technical details and any changes agreed in plenary, according to the Parliament’s schedule. The briefing is set for Tuesday at 17:30 and is intended for journalists.
Context and next steps
The European Parliament and member states have been engaged for some time in efforts to introduce measures addressing imbalances in agri-food supply chains. Such legislation typically aims to improve transparency in contractual terms, protect smaller suppliers from unfair trading practices, and create clearer rules for long-term and seasonal contracts.
Following a plenary vote, a common next step is to finalise Parliament’s negotiating position ahead of trialogue talks with the Council and the European Commission, where the three institutions seek a final compromise. The press notice did not specify whether trilogue negotiations will start immediately or when Council representatives will take up the file.
What to watch at the briefing
Journalists attending Imart’s briefing can expect an explanation of the content of the text approved in plenary, any amendments adopted, and the rapporteur’s assessment of where the file goes next. Observers will be looking for details on which contractual practices will be prohibited or regulated, what transparency measures will be required, and how enforcement and sanctions will be handled across member states.
The issue is closely watched by farmers’ organisations, retailers, processors and national authorities because it influences contractual risk allocation, farm incomes and consumer prices across the EU. Changes to the regulatory framework could also ripple through related policy areas such as competition rules, state aid, and trade, depending on the final scope of the rules.
The Agriculture and Rural Development Committee issued the briefing notice on its public schedule; no further information was included in the committee’s release. Reporters planning to attend the 17:30 briefing should consult the Parliament’s communications channels for practical arrangements and any distributed documents.
Source: Full Press Release
