The Liaison Centre for the Meat Processing Industry in the EU (CLITRAVI) stressed the seriousness of the coronavirus situation and the impact it was having on an already under pressure meat processing industry.
As well as outlining some of the main impacts of the coronavirus situation such as a decrease in sales to the food service sector, safety and motivation in the workplace and pressures placed on free movement of goods and services, CLITRAVI also urged measures to aid the recovery process.
It stressed the importance of maintaining the single market, describing it as “a prerequisite to mitigate the crisis and to speed up the recovery once the outbreak will be contained”. “We ask to firmly stop the fragmentation of the Internal Market and the distortions of competition caused by National governments (example: origin labelling, FOP schemes), and to go ahead with resolution and determination towards harmonization.”
CLITRAVI also called for a farm-to-fork strategy and suggested the European Commission reframe the current to “reboot the food sector”.
It also urged recognition of the meat processing sector in the supply chain. “While the main messages conveyed by public authorities are underlining the role of farmers and retailers, there is a lack of knowledge of the efforts carried on by processors. We urge to raise the awareness on the role of the processors in maintain the efficiency of the food supply chain without significant shortages which could have dramatic consequences for citizens.”