Radu Marian
Radu Marian, chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for Economy, Budget and Finance, told a press conference that the draft was elaborated by PAS faction deputies together with experts and in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry.
According to the MP, the key goal of the initiative is to make the path of products from producer to consumer as direct as possible.
“What does ‘short chain’ really mean? Simply put – between those who, for example, grow nuts or produce bryndza and cheese, and the consumer’s table will be no more than one intermediary. Our goal is simple: the path from farm to plate should be as short as possible, the products should be as fresh as possible and as much profit as possible should stay in the pocket of the producer, and not be lost along the way in the form of unnecessary commissions,” said the MP.
New requirements for trade
The bill also provides new requirements for trade networks and mechanisms for informing buyers:
“First, there will be transparency on the shelf: large retail chains will be required to have clear written procedures for selecting suppliers. Secondly, we propose to legislate an official logo, which will help consumers immediately recognize places where products from a short supply chain are sold.”
As Marian emphasized, the document lays the legal foundation for further measures to support producers.
“This project first of all defines the rules of the game and creates a framework. But it is also the one that will give the state the legal basis for further intervention through: grant programs and special financial instruments for short chain actors; financing for the expansion of production capacities; investments in warehouses and general logistics; technical support and advice on modernizing production and more efficient marketing,” Radu Marian concluded.
