18.11.

PRESS RELEASE: European Supply Chain Initiative winds down activities – Principles of Good Practice remain in place

After six years of operation, the work of the European Supply Chain Initiative (SCI), a joint initiative launched by several EU level associations with the aim of promoting fairness in commercial relations along the food supply chain, will wind down at the end of 2019. The European SCI mechanisms and tools developed over the years  remain available to all stakeholders. The SCI’s Principles of Good Practice, which have been widely endorsed along the food supply chain, will continue to be promoted as an important standard. National dialogue platforms and registered companies remain free to continue to apply and promote the Principles on a voluntary basis.

18 November 2019, Brussels - The European Supply Chain Initiative (SCI), which was officially launched in 2013 to promote fair business practices in the food supply chain as a basis for commercial dealings, winds down its activities at the end of 2019. The Principles of Good Practice, which were widely endorsed along the food supply chain and the European Commission, remain an important standard for all sectors. National dialogue platforms and registered companies remain free to continue to apply and promote the Principles of good practice on a voluntary basis. 

“The Principles of Good Practice were not only the foundation of the SCI, but are and should be at the heart of all commercials dealings. The Principles were signed-up to by over 1,200 companies in Europe who registered with the SCI, they have been integrated in contractual agreements and have even served as a source of inspiration in both the Unfair Trading Practices Directive and some national legislations. They therefore remain important and the organisations who were involved in the SCI will continue to promote them in the future” says Michael Hutchings, Chair of the SCI. 

Over its years of operation, the SCI has promoted sector dialogue and mediation as a means to solve disputes among trading partners. These efforts are now reflected in the recently adopted Unfair Trading Practices Directive which encourages mediation to resolve disputes. “Many excellent national mechanisms are now in place that offer companies support to resolve conflicts by means of dialogue. I am proud to see that the European SCI contributed to the establishment of several platforms and initiatives across Europe that are highly effective and offer companies many options to resolve disputes in a fair and transparent manner” says Mr Hutchings.

With a view to the future, interaction between sector organisations and the exchange of good practices between national platforms remain important. Relevant workshops and events may continue to be organised by the organisations who were involved with the SCI to promote this dialogue moving forward. 

The SCI leaves a legacy of initiatives, mechanisms and tools which have made a positive impact in the sector and which will continue to be useful for all stakeholders in the future, via the SCI website (https://www.supplychaininitiative.eu).

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For more information contact:
Fabienne Eckert
SCI Manager
E-mail :  info@supplychaininitiative.eu
Tel :      +32 474 07 87 09

 

Note to the Editors: 

The Supply Chain Initiative was launched in September 2013 by a group of EU-level associations representing today the food and drink industry (FoodDrinkEurope, AIM-the European Brands Association), the retail sector (EuroCommerce, Euro Coop, the European Retail Round Table-ERRT, and Independent Retail Europe), and agricultural traders (CELCAA). 

The Principles of Good Practice were adopted in November 2011 by 11 organisations: AIM, CEJA, CELCAA, CLITRAVI, Copa Cogeca, ERRT, EuroCommerce, Euro Coop, FoodDrinkEurope, SMEunited (formerly UEAPME) and Independent Retail Europe (formerly UGAL). The Principles, which are available in 23 languages on the SCI website, provide a framework for conducting business that respects contractual freedom and ensures competitiveness. 

 

For any questions on the Principles of Good Practice or past activities of the SCI, please contact the organisations.