March 15, 2021
 

EU questionnaire on contingency plan concerning food supply and security launched

 The European Commission has launched a questionnaire on a contingency plan to ensure food supply and food security across the European Union in times of crisis, as announced in its Farm to Fork strategy.

The purpose of the consultation is to gather feedback on the form, nature and scope of the plan. Various stakeholders involved in the food supply chain, such as producers, processors, distributors or transport operators, as well as consumers, civil society and national authorities, are invited to give their opinion during a nine-week period from March 1 to May 3 this year.

As indicated in the Farm to Fork Strategy, the commission intends to strengthen the coordination of the European response to crises affecting the EU food system and to ensure food safety.

To this end, the emergency plan will include a set of procedures to be followed in times of crisis, as well as the establishment of a food crisis response mechanism coordinated by the commission, involving Member States and possibly various sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, transport and health.

The mechanism will take the form of a permanent forum to coordinate actions, exchange best practices and assess threats and risks.

- European Commission