On 29 March 2022, the first meeting of the collaborative platform for the EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices took place. The collaborative platform takes place once per year to discuss the general progress made by companies in the framework of the Code. The platform is constituted of the signatories to the Code, NGOs and civil society actors as well as the European Commission. During the platform meeting, the Chair of the Task Force presented the important reporting template for company commitments.
During the collaborative platform meeting, the Liaison Group members (leading the efforts on the Code of Conduct) presented the general state of play, the number of commitments received in the framework of the Code of Conduct (117), and gave companies the opportunity to bring forward potential challenges that they have faced so far.
In order to exchange on how to reach best the commitments made under the Code, the Liaison Group proposed to organise workshops around four themes this year:
- climate change (net zero, sustainable agriculture, waste);
- balanced diets/nutrition;
- food security;
- packaging.
These workshops will be organised either under the leadership of the Liaison Group, or by any members of the Signatories Group that would like to demonstrate or take leadership on any given topic. Do not hesitate to inform us if you would like to demonstrate your leadership on any of these topics.
Finally, the template for reporting on the progress made by companies on their commitments was presented during the meeting. The deadline for companies to submit these reports is the end of April 2022 (end of April 2023 for SMEs if they cannot submit in 2022). The reporting template for associations was also formally presented during the meeting. Independent Retail Europe will have to submit a report on its actions to promote and disseminate the Code by the end of April 2022.
