Brussels, 29 April 2022
Primary Food Processors (PFP) called on European institutions and Member States to recognise primary food processing industries as priority sectors in the event of gas rationing measures across the European Union.
The statement was issued against the backdrop of growing concerns over European gas supplies following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, EU sanctions and the interruption of gas deliveries to several Member States. PFP warned that emergency gas rationing could have serious consequences for food security, supply chain continuity and the affordability of food and feed products throughout Europe.
The organisation noted that the war in Ukraine had already created substantial pressure on the supply of key agricultural commodities, including wheat, sunflower oil and maize. Additional disruptions to energy supplies would further strain production systems and increase costs across food and feed value chains.
According to PFP, gas shortages could interrupt the production of essential food ingredients, reduce the availability of feed materials, increase food inflation and threaten the continuity of industrial food production processes.
The association stressed that primary food processing relies heavily on continuous industrial operations. Many facilities cannot simply stop and restart production without significant technical, safety and economic consequences. Unplanned interruptions would reduce output, increase costs and create cascading effects throughout food and feed supply chains.
PFP therefore called for primary food processing industries to receive treatment comparable to the priority status granted to essential sectors during the COVID 19 crisis. The organisation argued that safeguarding food production capacity should remain a central objective of any emergency gas allocation framework.
The association highlighted the strategic importance of key ingredients produced by primary food processors, including flour, vegetable oils, starch products, sugar, cocoa products and plant based proteins. Disruptions affecting these ingredients would have widespread consequences for downstream food manufacturing and consumer food availability.
PFP also warned that interruptions to co products used in animal feed production could significantly affect livestock farming and reduce the availability of animal products throughout the European market.
According to the organisation, priority sector recognition would help avoid severe disruptions to food supply chains, preserve food security and maintain economic stability during periods of energy shortage.
PFP concluded that primary food processors should be formally recognised as priority sectors within any future EU gas rationing mechanism in order to safeguard food production, supply chain resilience and the functioning of Europe’s agri food system.
PFP members process approximately 220 million tonnes of raw materials and employ more than 120,000 people across the European Union.
