The Agriculture and Fisheries Council of the European Union, which convened on the 12th and 13th of December in Brussels, adopted conclusions on contingency planning to safeguard food supply and food security in times of crisis.
The issue has been on the Council`s agenda recently due to the problems caused in agriculture and food supply chains due to the pandemic.
During his intervention, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Costas Kadis referred to the importance of the existence of mechanisms at the EU level to strengthen crisis preparedness, particularly in these sectors, according to an official statement.
Kadis also recalled that Cyprus is one of the countries facing the possibility of severe weather events in the future as it is considered a hot spot in relation to climate change and expressed his satisfaction with the inclusion of references to climate change crises and island states in the conclusions.
The ministers also exchanged views on unfair commercial practices in the food sector, noting that these practices are present in most member states, as well as on the recent EU directive which aims to address the issue. Kadis briefed his counterparts on the transposition of the directive into national law in Cyprus last week through a unanimous vote in the House of Representatives.
Kadis also expressed Cyprus’ support to the Commission`s proposal for a regulation to restrict selling and export of products related to deforestation and forest degradation,
The ministers also discussed once again the critical situation in the pork sector, as a result of the increase in energy and feed prices. Several ministers, including Kadis, called on the Commission to activate exceptional market support measures, with particular attention to the adverse effects on agriculture of the increases in cereal, energy, fertiliser and feed prices.
Source: Cyprus News Agency