On 8 July 2026, the European Parliament and the Council adopted a Regulation amending three existing EU Regulations to strengthen farmers' position in the food supply chain, affecting all EU farmers, producer organisations, and food supply chain operators. The new rules mandate written contracts for most farm deliveries, tighten conditions for using optional terms such as 'fair' and 'short supply chain', and expand the negotiating powers of producer organisations.
The Regulation, adopted by the Council on 24 June 2026 and published on 8 July 2026, amends Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013, (EU) 2021/2115 and (EU) 2021/2116. It introduces several key measures. First, the optional terms 'fair', 'equitable', and 'short supply chain' can only be used for commercial modalities meeting specific conditions: stable and transparent relations, equitable pricing, and either a direct farmer-consumer connection or geographic proximity. The Commission may add equivalent optional terms via delegated acts under Article 290 TFEU. Second, written contracts become mandatory for deliveries of agricultural products by farmers (soil, greenhouse, or livestock) and their associations, producer organisations, or associations of producer organisations. Member States may derogate for certain products (seasonal, perishable, traditional/customary sales) or operators where predictability and transparency are achieved otherwise. Third, producer organisation recognition is now possible via a single request covering multiple sectors or products. Non-recognised producer organisations can negotiate contract terms if they apply for recognition within 4 months, or within 5 years if no Member State decision is made. Associations of producer organisations can negotiate contract terms for members, capped at 36% of national production for that product. In the dairy sector, quantitative limits for collective negotiations are increased, and rules on producer organisation statutes are extended to dairy. Member States must ensure voluntary mediation or comparable mechanisms for contract disputes.
The Regulation aims to rebalance power in the food supply chain, where farmers have often faced unequal bargaining positions relative to processors and retailers. By mandating written contracts and strengthening collective negotiation, the EU seeks to improve income predictability and fairness for farmers. However, the new obligations may increase administrative burdens for small farmers and producer organisations, and the derogations for Member States could lead to uneven implementation across the EU. The Regulation enters into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.