The Spanish government wants to tighten control over supermarket margins, after the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, presented 43 measures to agricultural organisations to support the sector.
According to Spanish daily El Economista, the planned measures will allow for greater vigilance over profits in the distribution sector.
Among other things, Planas has agreed that the El Observatorio de la Cadena Alimentaria on costs and margins (Food Chain Observatory) will meet quarterly, instead of every six months, and "will increase the publication of margin studies for the different food chains," the report said.
The executive branch will implement measures that aim to help farmers calculate the production costs so that the sector can obtain fair remuneration, allowing it to cover costs, also preventing sales at a loss.
Monitoring Agricultural Exports And Imports
Additionally, the government's plan also foresees the monitoring of agricultural exports and imports and the strengthening of border controls on imports from third countries.
This is intended to avoid excessive extra-EU imports at lower prices, however by not having to meet the same environmental requirements that are demanded in the EU.
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Planas has undertaken to publish the fines imposed as well as the amount of sanctions accumulated by those who violate the law and engage in unlawful commercial practices, according to the report.
The Spanish government will also strengthen its inspection capacity by providing more human and material resources to the Agencia de Control e Información Agroalimentario (Aica – Agro-Food Control and Information Agency).
Elsewhere, Spanish olive oil exports declined by 35.8% in 2023 to 684,500 tonnes, valued at €4.15 billion, according to data from the country's Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism.
