To actualise commitment in promoting the shift towards healthy and sustainable consumption patterns, the European Union (EU) alongside industry stakeholders, including international organisations, and NGOs, has officially launched the EU code of conduct on responsible food business and marketing practices, a key deliverable under the commission’s Farm to Fork Strategy.
According to a statement by the EU commission, the Farm to Fork Strategy is at the heart of the European Green Deal aiming to make food systems fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly. The code, reportedly signed by 65 entities including 26 food manufacturers, 14 food retailers, 24 associations, and one foodservice player, also comprises two levels of commitments: one for the EU associations and the other for companies in the food industry.
For companies, the code has a framework for ambitious commitments with measurable outcomes in a wide range of areas, from animal welfare to sugar reduction and cutting greenhouse gas emissions in their full product range.
The governance of the code puts in place the tools for collaboration among all actors concerned in order to generate new and more ambitious commitments, partnerships, and stimulate interaction and exchange.
In his remarks, Frans Timmermans, executive vice-president of EU college of commissioners, said addressing the environmental, health, and social challenges in the food system requires cooperation across the entire food chain. He noted that the ambitions of the stakeholders who have already signed the EU Code of Conduct has so far been encouraging.
The European Union urged more EU associations and companies to join the Code of Conduct which it perceived to be a game-changing solution to food business and marketing practices. Some of the major food companies on the list include Coca-Cola, AB InBev, Barilla, Nestle, PepsiCo, Danone, Pernod Ricard, and Unilever.
