Conclusions on the contingency plan for ensuring food supply and food security in times of crisis were adopted by the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held on Sunday 12 and Monday 13 December in Brussels.
The issue has been on the Council's agenda recently, in response to the problems caused by the pandemic crisis in the agri-food chain.
In his intervention on the issue, according to a statement, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Costas Kadis referred to the importance of having mechanisms at EU level to strengthen preparedness for upcoming crises, particularly in these sectors.
He also pointed out that Cyprus is also facing the possibility of severe weather events as it is considered a hot spot in relation to climate change, and expressed his satisfaction for the inclusion in the text of the Conclusions of reports related to climate change crises and island states.
The Agriculture Ministers also exchanged views on unfair commercial practices in the food supply chain, practices observed in most member states, and on ways in which they can be addressed with the help of a recent relevant European directive.
Mr. Kadis informed his counterparts about the transposition of the directive into Cyprus' national law with its unanimous vote by the House of Representatives last week.
In the context of the discussion of the Commission's proposal for a regulation to restrict the placing on the market and export of products related to deforestation and forest degradation, Mr. Kadis expressed Cyprus' support.
During the Council's work, the critical situation in the pork sector was again discussed, as a result, among other things, of the increase in energy prices and feed prices.
Several ministers, including Mr Kadis, asked the Commission to activate emergency market support measures, paying particular attention to the adverse effects on agriculture of the increases in the prices of cereals, energy, fertilisers and feed.
Source: CNA
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