Doc. 10459

28 February 2005

Responsible foodstuffs consumption

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Gubert and others

Foodstuffs consumption is one of the most important sectors concerned by responsible consumption. It raises a number of crucial challenges for society, particularly in the fields of agriculture, environment and biodiversity, spatial management, rural and regional development, public health and social cohesion in general. It also has a direct impact on the development of the countries of the South (North-South relations).

Intensive farming and agro-industry, backed by mass distribution, dominate the foodstuffs market in Western Europe, and are well on the way to doing the same in Central and Eastern Europe (in France, mass distribution accounts for nearly 90% of the market). Half of Western Europe’s farmers have gone under in the last ten years, with grave human and social effects on rural areas. This trend is also apparent in the immediate vicinity of towns and cities, owing to competition for building land and the collapse of local markets. This situation is a source of serious problems concerning:

- foodstuffs and public health;

- management of the environment;

- spatial management;

- social cohesion.

These problems are accentuated by the fact that foodstuffs consumption is influenced by advertising, which tends to shift responsibility from consumers to those who determine the products on offer, and to iron out those differences in food consumption patterns which help to create local and regional identities. Teaching people, and particularly children, to practise responsible consumption is thus becoming an urgent priority. A child in the United States, for example, is exposed to a yearly average of 10,000 food commercials, paid for by the agri-foods industry. The resulting obesity is on the way to becoming Europe's number one public health problem too.

In response to these problems, new patterns of consumption, based on long-term, mutual commitment between producers and consumers, are developing at local level in various European countries (Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, etc.). Pioneered in Japan some forty years ago, direct links of this kind are gradually becoming commoner throughout the world, particularly in the rich countries. They make it possible to recreate the conditions needed for high-quality foodstuffs and sustainable local agriculture, and also distribution circuits which avoid waste and packaging, and are thus commercially competitive. They also forge social ties, and help people to rediscover traditional eating and cooking habits.

Fair trade is another type of commitment between consumers and producers in the southern countries, guaranteeing the latter fair prices for their produce and an income sufficient for their own and their families’ welfare. Today, fair trade is taking hold in most European countries and even attaining a significant level in some of them (up to 30% of the market for certain products in Switzerland).

There are also many initiatives aimed at sparking a renewed interest in high-quality consumption and preservation of the foodstuffs heritage, e.g. the “slow food” scheme in Italy.

Responsible foodstuffs consumption has considerable advantages, which is why public authorities are becoming increasingly interested. Various types of support are being provided, e.g. for citizen initiatives in this area, where it includes help with consciousness-raising and networking, special tax measures, the insertion of responsible consumption criteria in public calls for tender, etc. In addition to these multiple initiatives, many others would seem vital, e.g. stricter rules on food advertising, and particularly advertising aimed at young people, of the kind already in force for tobacco and alcohol.

The Parliamentary Assembly should look more closely at the challenges and benefits of developing responsible consumption and fair trade, particularly the role of citizens and public authorities, and make proposals on promoting these approaches, which contribute to social cohesion in our countries and make for fairer North-South relations.

Signed ¹:

GUBERT, Renzo, Italy, EPP/CD

AÇIKGÖZ, Ruhi, Turkey, EDG

COŞKUNOĞLU, Osman, Turkey, SOC

CREMA, Giovanni, Italy, SOC

de PUIG, Lluís Maria, Spain, SOC

DEITTERT, Hubert, Germany, EPP/CD

DUPRAZ, John, Switzerland, LDR

ETHERINGTON, Bill, United Kingdom, SOC

FLYNN, Paul, United Kingdom, SOC

JÄGER, Renate, Germany, SOC

JAKAVONIS, Gediminas, Lithuania, LDR

KOLESNIKOV, Victor, Russia, EDG

KUŽVART, Miloš, Czech Republic, SOC

NESSA, Pasquale, Italy, EPP/CD

PRESEČNIK, Jakob, Slovenia, EPP/CD

STOYANOVA, Maria, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

TXUEKA, Iñaki, Spain, LDR

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group