The Minister of Agriculture and Food announced this Wednesday that a symbol will be created to show that food reaches consumers at a fair price, which is reflected at all stages of the national chain.
According to Maria do Seu Antunes, the measure, which will consist of placing this seal on products or on their packaging, is part of the initiative of the Price Observatory, controlled by the ministry, which evaluates the transparency of the entire value chain in the agri-food sector.
“We must identify issues and take action that will make the entire food chain a fair system for farmers, for processing, transportation, large and small surfaces and for the consumer,” the minister said on the sidelines of a visit to Agros facilities. , Union of Dairy Cooperatives, in Povoa de Varzim, Porto district.
The Minister noted that this symbol, which will certify a fair price, which will increase after the Observatory’s estimates become known later this year, will ensure “that no one suffers losses and that conditions are created for the sustainability of the entire food chain.”
“We believe that at the same time, the consumer, when he goes to the supermarket to buy his products, can choose with confidence that he has not left anyone behind,” the minister added.
Maria do Seu Antunes ensured that the government continues to work on “creating a fair chain”, even acknowledging that some asymmetries still exist, namely with the loss of income for farmers, which the ministry promises to support.
“The data shows that in production there is a drop in farmers’ incomes, mainly due to an increase in production costs, by about 14%. There has already been a 2.6% increase in support for this sector, but this is still not enough to prevent this decline in income,” the person in charge of guardianship analyzed.
The minister assured that negotiations are ongoing with the European Commission on additional support funds to combat the inflationary crisis, which also affects the sector, and that they will be supplemented by appropriations from the state budget.
“Apart from regular support, we know that this emergency aid may not be enough to reverse the impact of these successive crises on production and consumers. That is why we are mobilizing everything in our power to mitigate these consequences, ”Maria do Haven assured. Antunes.
As for the possibility of creating additional consumer protection, by setting, for example, a price freeze on essential goods, the minister considered it “too premature to talk about specific measures.”
“We cannot create expectations that we cannot meet. In addition, it can create conditions for the separation of various elements of the food chain and their opposition to each other. Sustainable responses,” he added.
In this context of joint mobilization, the Minister of Agriculture and Food announced that a meeting of the Platform for Monitoring Relations in the Food Chain (PARCA) will be held on March 22 with the participation of representatives of the state authorities of agriculture. and Economy and all elements of the chain, from production to distribution.
The minister also mentioned that a permanent sub-committee will be created within PARCA, in which various bodies will be represented, in order to “look at what is happening along the chain.” [agroalimentar] and make concrete proposals that lead to political action.”
JPYG // advisor
Portuguese/Late
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Tifany Hawkins, a professional journalist with years of experience in news reporting. I currently work for a prominent news website and write articles for 24NewsReporters as an author. My primary focus is on economy-related stories, though I am also experienced in several other areas of journalism.