Civil society organisations urge von der Leyen to publish the SFS Framework Law

06 September 2023

NGOs and academics are urging European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to prioritise the proposal for an EU legislative framework for sustainable food systems. This legislation is a crucial component of the EU’s Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy and the Green Deal, designed to speed up the shift towards sustainable food systems. The urgency stems from issues like unhealthy soils, declining biodiversity, and an obesity epidemic in the EU.

Despite its scheduled proposal for the third quarter of this year, political challenges and opposition to green policies cast doubt on whether it will be presented before the end of the Commission’s mandate in October 2024.

On September 6, 160 civil society organisations, including SAFE Food Advocacy Europe, sent an open letter to von der Leyen, stressing that failing to publish this law would hinder the EU’s climate, environment, and health objectives. This law is essential as an enabling policy framework for food businesses, retailers, farmers, consumers, and policymakers to contribute to the agri-food sector’s transition, crucial for achieving the EU’s climate goals.

“Scientific evidence clearly backs the urgency of the transformation of our food system towards a more sustainable and healthier one, within planetary boundaries,” the letter says.