On 29 June 2026, the Council of the European Union formally adopted a regulation amending EU rules to strengthen the position of farmers in the food supply chain. The legislative act, approved by Coreper (Part 1) on 24 June 2026, was adopted during the 4188th meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council in Luxembourg. The regulation amends Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013, (EU) 2021/2115, and (EU) 2021/2116, and aims to enhance farmers' bargaining power by introducing new rules on contractual relations, transparency, and unfair trading practices. The adoption follows the European Parliament's approval of the text in earlier negotiations.
The regulation is expected to impact farmers, agricultural cooperatives, food processors, and retailers. Farmers stand to gain stronger negotiating positions, while retailers and processors may face new contractual obligations and limits on certain practices. The regulation will enter into force twenty days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.