On 24 June 2026, the Council adopted a regulation amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013, 2021/2115 and 2021/2116 to strengthen farmers' position in the food supply chain, based on the trilogue compromise reached on 5 March 2026. The regulation introduces mandatory written contracts for all agricultural products, a unilateral revision clause for contracts over 12 months, and extends competition law derogations to non-recognised producer organisations. It also reduces the minimum supply value threshold for dairy contracts from EUR 20,000 to EUR 10,000 and imposes restrictions on meat-related terms and cultivated meat. The adoption was not unanimous: Germany abstained, Latvia voted against, and the Netherlands voted against, while Austria voted in favour but voiced concerns.
Germany abstained, arguing that the instruments are unsuitable, create bureaucratic burden and costs, and that protected meat designations unnecessarily affect the German agri-food industry. It noted that member states may derogate from mandatory written contracts, and that terms like burger, sausage and schnitzel remain free, fish designations are unaffected, and transitional periods were secured. Latvia voted against, insisting that mandatory written contracts and mediation should remain at member state discretion; it specifically opposed Article 148 on dairy contracts and the reduction of the minimum supply value threshold from EUR 20,000 to EUR 10,000. The Netherlands could not support the compromise due to last-minute restrictions on meat-related terms and cultivated meat, which it said create regulatory burden, hinder innovation, and contradict the Draghi Report on competitiveness. Austria voted in favour but called for evaluation; it criticised mandatory written contracts for all agricultural products (including dairy products), a new unilateral revision clause for contracts over 12 months (six months in dairy), and extension of competition law derogations to non-recognised producer organisations, which it warned increases administrative burden and legal uncertainty.
The regulation impacts several stakeholders. EU farmers stand to gain from stronger contractual protections and a more balanced negotiating position, but may face increased administrative costs from mandatory written contracts and mediation procedures. EU food processors and retailers will bear new compliance burdens, particularly from the unilateral revision clause and extended competition law derogations, which could increase legal uncertainty. EU consumers may see limited changes in product availability or pricing, but the restrictions on meat-related terms and cultivated meat could reduce innovation and choice. National authorities of EU member states will need to implement and enforce the new rules, with some member states (Germany, Latvia, Netherlands) expressing concerns about disproportionate costs and interference with national discretion. The regulation now passes to the European Parliament for final approval before publication in the Official Journal.