On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on cooperation among enforcement authorities responsible for the enforcement of Directive (EU) 2019/633 on unfair trading practices in business-to-business relationships in the agricultural and food supply chain
IMCO-PA-770204
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection · Rapporteur: Adnan Dibrani
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.
This draft opinion proposes amendments to the Commission's proposed regulation on cross-border cooperation between enforcement authorities for Directive (EU) 2019/633 on unfair trading practices in the agricultural and food supply chain. It clarifies practical aspects of mutual assistance, cost sharing, coordinator designation, and timeframes.¶¶¶ The amendments specify that requests for mutual assistance must include detailed information, allow refusals with justification, and set rules for costs. They also assign the Commission a role in disagreements and require it to establish standard forms.¶¶
Committee position. The rapporteur proposes amendments to improve the Commission's proposal, clarifying practical aspects of cooperation, cost sharing, coordinator designation, and timeframes, and giving the Commission a role in disagreements.¶¶¶
Key points
- Requests for information must be answered within 60 days from receipt, unless otherwise agreed, and the requested authority may provide only relevant information necessary.¶
- The requested authority must undertake necessary investigations and may refuse to provide information only with a reasoned reply within the set period.¶¶
- Enforcement of fines may be carried out by a competent public body with principal responsibility, and costs for mutual assistance are to be shared equally or recovered from fines.¶¶
- Notifications of decisions on unfair trading practices must be sent to all enforcement authorities and the Commission within 30 days.¶
- Requests for mutual assistance must include a reference to the regulation, the purpose, and relevant information, using standard forms established by the Commission.¶¶¶
- Disagreements between authorities may be referred to the Commission, which shall issue an opinion; the Commission may also issue guidance.¶¶
- If no agreement on language, each authority is responsible for translations of documents it receives.¶
- The Commission shall adopt implementing acts laying down standard forms for mutual assistance requests.¶
- If authorities cannot agree on a coordinator for coordinated actions, the authority of the member state where the suspected buyer is established shall be designated.¶
- The coordinator shall notify results of investigations, and the Commission may trigger coordinated actions if it suspects a widespread practice.¶¶
- Coordinated actions must be effective, efficient, and coordinated; common positions are published after the action is completed.¶¶
- A coordinated action may cease if continued investigation is no longer warranted, and the coordinator must notify authorities and the Commission without delay.¶¶