Scrap the CAP, says Which?

As the European Commission publishes its proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which is due to be reformed by the end of 2013, Which? executive director Richard Lloyd, says:

“These reforms don’t go far enough – the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) should be scrapped. This is an archaic policy, which all consumers pay for through taxes and higher food prices. It’s all the harder to justify at a time of soaring household bills and falling disposable incomes.  

“The food supply chain is facing unprecedented challenges including rising food prices and tackling problems of food security, with enormous implications for consumers. The CAP should therefore be replaced with an EU food strategy that puts the consumer at its heart. We can’t go on with a policy that does so little for sustainability, food quality and healthy eating.”

Which? wants to see:

– The CAP rapidly phased out and replaced with new food, rural, environmental and sustainability strategies;

 

– Agriculture integrated within a broader food strategy as part of an EU ‘plough to plate’ approach that includes food safety, quality and nutrition;

 

– A competitive single market in both food and primary agricultural produce which can deliver the range and quality of products, value and choice which consumers expect.

 

Which? will be feeding its views on the CAP reform into the legislative process.