2. SHIFT CONSUMPTION 3. LOWER PRICES OF SUSTAINABLE FOOD 4. NATIONAL ACTION PLANS AND SUSTAINABILITY 5. IMPROVE FOOD SYSTEMS GOVERNANCE RULES FOR LARGE BUSINESS The new law should act decisively on food The new law should strive to make healthy and The new law should renew the governance of consumption, creating environments that foster dietary sustainable diets the cheapest option for consumers, The new law should create new obligations for EU food policies and their implementation, to changes, which not only support nature-positive food as lower prices will provide the right signal and help drive national governments and large food businesses, ensure a more inclusive, participatory and science-based production but also improve human health. change in production and consumption. which should be commensurate with their power and transformation of food systems. responsibility to lead food system transformation. A reliable, transparent and comprehensive assessment of Considering that the rules that govern markets hardly The law should establish a European Scientific the sustainability of food products could be instrumental consider health, social and environmental externalities, As many of the areas of EU action relevant for food are under Advisory Board on Sustainable Food Systems in this endeavour, but this process could still take several policy interventions - informed by the true costs shared competence, the law should require additional to ensure science-based evaluation and feedback on years. Therefore, parallel action should be initiated of food - are necessary. Reducing taxes on certain food coordinated action from Member States, which could the transition path. The board should ensure a diverse immediately to favour food options such as plant- categories and reorienting subsidies and public investment be set out in national action plans with a clear mandate composition of scientists with strong social and based, organic and fairtrade foods, already taking a solid to increase the availability of food produced at higher and accountability mechanisms. Such plans should include environmental expertise. The European Environment Agency step towards the protein transition and more sustainable socio-environmental standards are just two of the actions areas such as food taxation, dietary advice and public should be mandated to gather data from Member States and consumption. that could help achieve this objective. To prevent unfair procurement, which are typically within the remit of provide sound independent information on all environmental competition, this should be complemented by restrictions on (sub-)national governments and are crucial in achieving the aspects of food systems. Shifting consumption at the necessary pace and scale importing or placing products on the European market that common sustainability goals. requires that the contexts in which food choices are made do not meet minimum mandatory requirements in In order to involve food system actors from the ground, become more conducive to healthy sustainable diets. terms of sustainability. New sustainability rules for large food businesses, exchange best practice and inform policy-making, the This law should not rely on food labelling and on the limited such as major manufacturers, traders and retailers, should Scientific Advisory Board should be complemented by an agency of informed consumers to make better choices and Food businesses also have a direct responsibility, be phased in progressively in the first five years of EU platform of locally-led initiatives for sustainable drive demand for sustainable food. This legislative framework as they may seek greater margins on sustainability-certified application of the new law, alongside incentives for SMEs food systems. The platform should address power 8 should adopt a wide-reaching food environments products or try to attract consumers with promotions that to follow suit. Monitoring and transparent reporting on key imbalances and prioritise the participation of those who approach: it should use all policy levers to also tackle artificially lower the prices of less healthy food options. Such aspects of the socio-environmental performance of food are engaged in food councils and similar initiatives, and aspects such as food characteristics (i.e. appearance, actions need to be prevented, including through businesses, and remunerating their domestic or international in grassroots initiatives and enterprises, but have less nutritional content), length of supply chains, public regulation where needed, and make business practices on supply chains for lowering their impacts, should become a agency and voice in EU fora, such as socio-economically procurement, advertising and promotion, dietary guidelines, food pricing align with health and sustainability goals. basic obligation under the law, alongside requirements to marginalised communities, small-scale producers, and young retail and other food services. improve their sustainability performance over time. citizens. © Michel Gunther / WWF 9 Source: EU Food Policy Coalition 8 Food environments can be defined as “the physical, economic, political and socio-cultural context in which consumers engage with the food system to make their decisions about acquiring, preparing and consuming food”. High Level Panel of Experts. 2017. Nutrition and food systems. A report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security, Rome. 9 EU Food Policy Coalition, 2021. Food Environments & EU Food Policy - Discovering the role of food environments for sustainable food systems. VALUING FOOD - FOR A GAME-CHANGING EU LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 7