Code of conduct for fair trading in Germany
The German Raiffeisen Association (DRV) has called on its country’s food retailers to resume joint discussions on a code of conduct for fair trading conditions.
“The food retail sector has recognised that treating agricultural producers fairly is a prerequisite for long-term economic success. One-off payments or concessions by individual market participants are positive signs, but they are not enough to meet the challenges over the long term,” claims DRV president Franz-Josef Holzenkamp.
Therefore, negotiations on a common code of fair business relations must continue, it says. The Raiffeisen Association had already started this in spring with representatives from the food retail sector. “We had achieved a very promising status. The German Raiffeisen Association will therefore continue to be available as a discussion partner on this important topic,” he says.
The Federal Cabinet in Germany recently approved the draft for the implementation of the UTP Directive (Unfair Trading Practices) into national law. The DRV welcomes that a parliamentary group is taking the initiative to step up further measures beyond the UTP guidelines.
“Fair competition must not be a question of sales volume, it must apply to everyone. That is why we are committed to adapting the previously intended area of application,” says the DRV president.
Holzenkamp warns that food producers have to stand together in order to achieve a good negotiating position with stronger market participants: “Cooperatives as companies owned by farmers show how this works. We focus on the needs of our members. Everyone can help determine the course of their company by volunteering.”