Roadmap for implementing the F2F strategy
To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy encompasses a series of specific actions aimed at establishing a fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly food system. Notable among these are:
- Establishing a legislative framework for sustainable food systems (FSFS);
- A contingency plan for food supply and food security (published on November 12, 2021): This plan identifies areas requiring improvement to ensure EU food security during crises (drawing on experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic) and establishes the European Food Security Crisis Preparedness and Response Mechanism (EFSCM);
- Specific legal actions (amending relevant legal texts and regulations): These actions are designed to achieve the strategy’s goals, such as reducing the use and risk of chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030 and achieving 25% of agricultural land under organic farming.
- An action plan with a specific timeline to meet the targets outlined in the F2F strategy has been defined and implemented in practice. The detailed roadmap for this strategy focuses on four of the six main goals previously mentioned, as described in the table below.
Table – Roadmap for Implementing the F2F Strategy
|
ACTIONS |
|
|
Proposal for a legislative framework for sustainable food systems |
2023 |
|
Develop a contingency plan for ensuring food supply and food security |
Q4 2021 |
|
ENSURE SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION |
|
|
Adopt recommendations to each Member State addressing the nine specific objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), before the draft CAP Strategic Plans are formally submitted |
Q4 2020 |
|
Proposal for a revision of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive to significantly reduce use and risk and dependency on pesticides and enhance Integrated Pest Management |
Q1 2022 |
|
Revision of the relevant implementing Regulations under the Plant Protection Products framework to facilitate placing on the market of plant protection products containing biological active substances |
Q4 2021 |
|
Proposal for a revision of the pesticides statistics Regulation to overcome data gaps and reinforce evidence-based policy making |
2023 |
|
Evaluation and revision of the existing animal welfare legislation, including on animal transport and slaughter of animals |
Q4 2023 |
|
Proposal for a revision of the feed additives Regulation to reduce the environmental impact of livestock farming |
Q4 2021 |
|
Proposal for a revision of the Farm Accountancy Data Network Regulation to transform it into a Farm Sustainability Data Network with a view to contribute to a wide uptake of sustainable farming practices |
Q2 2022 |
|
Clarification of the scope of competition rules in the TFEU with regard to sustainability in collective actions. |
Q3 2022 |
|
Legislative initiatives to enhance cooperation of primary producers to support their position in the food chain and non-legislative initiatives to improve transparency |
2021-2022 |
|
EU carbon farming initiative |
Q3 2021 |
|
STIMULATE SUSTAINABLE FOOD PROCESSING, WHOLESALE, RETAIL, HOSPITALITY AND FOOD SERVICES’ PRACTICES |
|
|
Initiative to improve the corporate governance framework, including a requirement for the food industry to integrate sustainability into corporate strategies |
Q1 2021 |
|
Develop an EU code and monitoring framework for responsible business and marketing conduct in the food supply chain |
Q2 2021 |
|
Launch initiatives to stimulate reformulation of processed food, including the setting of maximum levels for certain nutrients |
Q4 2021 |
|
Set nutrient profiles to restrict promotion of food high in salt, sugars and/or fat |
Q4 2022 |
|
Proposal for a revision of EU legislation on Food Contact Materials to improve food safety, ensure citizens’ health and reduce the environmental footprint of the sector |
Q4 2022 |
|
Proposal for a revision of EU marketing standards for agricultural, fishery and aquaculture products to ensure the uptake and supply of sustainable products |
2021-2022 |
|
Enhance coordination to enforce single market rules and tackle Food Fraud, including by considering a reinforced use of OLAF’s investigative capacities |
2021-2022 |
|
PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE FOOD CONSUMPTION, FACILITATING THE SHIFT TOWARDS HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE DIETS |
|
|
Proposal for a harmonised mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling to enable consumers to make health conscious food choices |
Q4 2022 |
|
Proposal to require origin indication for certain products |
Q4 2022 |
|
Determine the best modalities for setting minimum mandatory criteria for sustainable food procurement to promote healthy and sustainable diets, including organic products, in schools and public institutions |
Q3 2021 |
|
Proposal for a sustainable food labelling framework to empower consumers to make sustainable food choices |
2024 |
|
Review of the EU promotion programme for agricultural and food products with a view to enhancing its contribution to sustainable production and consumption |
Q4 2020 |
|
Review of the EU school scheme legal framework with a view to refocus the scheme on healthy and sustainable food |
2023 |
|
REDUCE FOOD LOSS AND WASTE |
|
|
Proposal for EU-level targets for food waste reduction |
2023 |
|
Proposal for a revision of EU rules on date marking (‘use by’ and ‘best before’ dates) |
Q4 2022 |
The implementation of action plans to execute this program, particularly the amendments and adjustments to EU legal regulations related to agricultural production and food, is expected to lead to stricter EU standards for agricultural production and food (concerning the use of chemicals, pesticides, and allowable chemical residues in agricultural and food products) both within the EU and for foreign products imported into the EU.
Source: Center for WTO and International Trade - VCCI