Duurzaamheidsafspraken in de agrifood sector

Sustainability agreements in the agricultural sector

Applicable rules and examples
7 December 2023

Recent changes to the competition rules provide more leeway for sustainability agreements in the agricultural sector. A specific derogation from the cartel prohibition has been inserted in the CMO Regulation to allow vertical and horizontal agreements promoting higher sustainability standards in the agri-food supply chain. The same amendment provides for the recognition of producer and branch organisations pursuing sustainability objectives.

On 7 December 2023 the Commission adopted guidelines which provide more clarity on the scope of the new exemption for sustainability agreements. 

We wrote a publication in which we discuss these amendments and other exemptions that may apply, with examples of the assessment of various sustainability initiatives against the exemption criteria.

Go to publication.

Written by:
Yvo de Vries

Key Contact

Amsterdam
Advocaat | Partner

Key Contact

Brussels
Advocaat | Partner

Key Contact

Brussels
Advocaat | Counsel