Outcomes of Mapping the Best Supporting Regulations of Short Food Supply Chains

An article by Viktoria Nagy (Kislépték)

Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) play a crucial role in enhancing local economies, ensuring food security, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. However, regulatory frameworks across Europe often present challenges for their implementation. The mapping of the best regulatory practices supporting SFSCs provides valuable insights into how policymakers can create a more enabling environment for these supply chains. This article highlights the key outcomes of this research and presents exemplary regulations that effectively support SFSCs.

Regulatory Challenges and Needs

Based on the SMARTCHAIN project and the interviews with the Living Lab leaders in EU4ADVICE project  several regulatory barriers were identified that hinder the development of SFSCs across Europe. These include:

  • Lack of a clear legal definition: Without a harmonized definition at the EU level, different interpretations exist across member states, leading to inconsistencies in policy application​.
  • Limited access to public procurement: SFSCs often struggle to compete in public tenders due to complex bureaucratic requirements​.
  • Inadequate processing infrastructure: Small-scale farmers and food producers lack access to facilities such as slaughterhouses and processing plants that accommodate small-scale production​.
  • Unfair trading practices: Small producers often face difficulties in negotiating fair prices due to limited bargaining power​.
  • Complex food safety regulations: Hygiene and safety regulations are often designed for large-scale producers, making compliance difficult for small businesses​.

Best Regulatory Practices Supporting SFSCs

Several European countries have implemented innovative regulatory measures to support SFSCs and within the project these examples were discovered. The following examples illustrate how targeted policies can address specific challenges:

  1. Italy’s “Zero Kilometer” Law
    • Enacted in 2022, this law defines and promotes “zero-kilometer” and short supply chain products, establishing clear criteria and logos for their identification​.
    • Municipalities are required to allocate at least 30% of market space to local producers, ensuring better access to consumers.
  2. Germany and Croatia’s Mobile Slaughterhouse Regulations
    • To address the lack of small-scale processing infrastructure, both countries have implemented regulations allowing mobile slaughterhouses, reducing transportation stress for animals and supporting small farmers​.
  3. Czech Republic’s Green Public Procurement Regulations
    • A 2019 amendment to public procurement laws allows contracting authorities to prioritize local food from SFSCs without violating EU competition rules​.
  4. Hungary and Malta’s Farmers’ Market Regulations
    • Hungary has amended trading laws to support direct sales by farmers, while Malta has established a dedicated agency to promote farmers’ markets​.
  5. France’s Differentiated Tax System for SFSCs
    • France offers tax incentives for producers participating in SFSCs, making local food more accessible and affordable​.
  6. Austria’s Food Safety Guidelines for Small Producers
    • Austria has developed proportionate food safety regulations tailored for small-scale producers, making compliance more manageable​.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The findings of this regulatory mapping demonstrate that SFSC-friendly policies can significantly enhance the viability of local food systems. Key recommendations for policymakers include:

  • Establishing an EU-wide definition of SFSCs to harmonize regulations.
  • Expanding flexible food safety regulations to accommodate small-scale producers.
  • Promoting local food procurement within public institutions.
  • Investing in local processing infrastructure tailored for SFSC needs.
  • Strengthening cooperative models to improve producers’ market power.

By adopting these best practices, EU member states can create a regulatory landscape that fosters resilient, fair, and sustainable food systems. The mapping of these regulations serves as a foundation for further policy development, ensuring that SFSCs continue to thrive across Europe.