Resumen de EU legal instruments supporting short food supply chains and local food systems

Anna Kapala

• The study aims to present a comprehensive overview of the instruments to support short food supply chains (SFSC) and local food systems (LFS) in EU law. There are provisions that in some way promote the development of SFSC, though they are scattered in different legal acts covering various aspects. Firstly, the definition of short supply chains has allowed for legal recognition of this phenomenon and a uniform understanding of it in the Member States. There are incentive measures under rural policy 2014-2020, and, secondly, “exclusions”, “derogations” and “flexible provisions” in the hygiene regulations. Thirdly, regulations that can improve a farmer's position in terms of supply to the local retail establishments relate to public procurement. However, implementation of these instruments for the benefit of SFSC and LFS depends on the Member States, which often do not apply them properly.