European context

Although this code is a national initiative, the Belgian Agro Food Chain has always strived from the start for an European harmonisation.

Within this framework a dialogue with the European "Supply Chain Initiative" was initiated, following the communication of the European Commission in favour of a better functioning of the food supply chain.

The European "Supply Chain Initiative" is comparable to the Belgian initiative but initiated at the European level and finally signed by a number of important links of the European Food Chain, more in particular the food processors, the retail and the trade (AIM, EuroCommerce, Euro Coop, FoodDrinkEurope, UEAPME and Independent Retail Europe (previously UGAL).

On 24 April 2014, after ample consultation between the Belgian and the European level, the Belgian Code of Conduct was recognised as equivalent by the "Governance Board" of the European "Supply Chain Initiative".