European Parliament Approves Historic Reform to Enhance Agricultural Contracts Across the EU

The European Parliament has passed a significant reform of the Common Organization of Agricultural Markets (OCM) aimed at bolstering the position of farmers and ranchers throughout the European Union. Led by French MEP Céline Imart, the reform prioritizes the mandatory use of written contracts and strengthens the role of producer organizations to ensure fair pricing in the food supply chain. This reform is seen as a "historic achievement" by Spain's Union of Small Farmers and Ranchers (UPA), as it extends Spain's Food Chain Law principles to a European level, promoting balance and fairness across member states.

Key measures include integrating objective economic indicators into contracts and improving crisis management in agricultural markets, with a particular focus on the dairy sector. Despite strong support from agricultural unions in Spain, France, and Italy, the legislation faced internal opposition; some cooperatives even accused the reform’s chief advocate, Imart, of hostility.

UPA called on European organizations within COPA-Cogeca to uphold their responsibility to represent millions of farming families who depend on equitable rules and fair prices. The reform also aims to enhance consumer information and tailor solutions to the diverse conditions of member states. This legislative change marks a crucial step towards a more just and transparent agricultural market environment across the EU, promising improved stability for farmers and ranchers in Spain and beyond.