A consultation on the public procurement framework, which accounts for about 14-15% of EU GDP and delivers meals to schools, hospitals and nursing homes across the bloc, officially closed (26th January).
Lucia Hortelano, EU senior policy manager at ProVeg, said: “EU public procurement is a central lever for building a more resilient agrifood system which benefits EU farmers, the environment, consumers and public authorities alike.
“With the closure of the consultation, we now urge the European Commission to realise the largely untapped potential of public procurement to drive the transition towards a healthier and more sustainable food system.”
ProVeg advocates for using food procurement to increase the demand and accessibility for organic and plant-based food products. ProVeg says this would help create stable market opportunities for EU farmers and act as a tool for consumers -especially children- to form healthier eating habits.
ProVeg has laid out three key asks to the Commission:
- Recognise the food sector as a strategic instrument.
- Strengthen the sustainability approach to food procurement, moving beyond the lowest price as the primary criterion to prioritise quality and sustainability.
- Introduce minimum mandatory requirements for food and food services, to ensure a harmonised and effective implementation across all Member States.