EU Rule to Stop Unfair Food Trade Deals

Regulation on cooperation among enforcement authorities to fight unfair trading practices in the agri‑food supply chain

Purpose – The regulation strengthens the fight against unfair trading practices that harm farmers and other suppliers in the EU agri‑food market. It requires national enforcement authorities to work together, share information, and coordinate investigations and penalties, especially when the practices cross borders.

Key rules

1. Cooperation – Authorities must cooperate on any unfair practice that involves a buyer in one Member State and a supplier in another.
2. Information exchange – Requests for information must be answered within 90 days (extendable by 30 days).
3. Investigations – Authorities can conduct investigations on behalf of another country, with the help of that country’s officials, and must report their actions.
4. Enforcement of fines – If a buyer cannot be fined in the country where the authority is based, the authority can enforce the fine in its own country.
5. Costs – No fees are charged to suppliers for cross‑border enforcement. Authorities may recover reasonable costs (e.g., translation, labour) from the requesting authority.
6. Alerts – Any suspected widespread unfair practice must be reported immediately to the Commission and other authorities, with details such as the buyer, the countries involved, and any ongoing proceedings.
7. Coordinated actions – When a practice is suspected to affect at least three Member States, authorities launch a coordinated action, appoint a coordinator, and share evidence and enforcement measures.
8. Suppliers or buyers outside the EU – The same cooperation rules apply when the supplier or buyer is located outside the EU.
9. Language – Communications are in the official language of the requesting or responding country, with an English translation if requested.
10. Reporting – Member States must include details of all requests and coordinated actions in their annual reports. The Commission will produce a report 4 years after the regulation takes effect, summarising cooperation, common types of unfair practices, and the most affected sectors.

Scope – The regulation applies to all business‑to‑business relationships in the agri‑food supply chain covered by Directive (EU) 2019/633. It does not replace stricter national rules but allows authorities to use the cooperation mechanisms even when national rules are stricter.

Entry into force – The regulation becomes applicable 18 months after it is published in the Official Journal. It is binding in its entirety in all Member States.

Adoption – The European Parliament adopted the regulation on 12 February 2026.