The government had to react quickly. After the angry movement of farmers, he announced that he wanted to strengthen the control of contracts signed as part of negotiations between distributors and manufacturers, in order to ensure that they are in compliance with the EGalim law, which aims to protect the farmers’ remuneration.
On the “1,000 contracts signed” at the end of the commercial negotiations which ended on January 31 between the “large industrialists” and the “five big distributors”, “124 contracts do not respect the rules of the law”said Bruno Le Maire in the program “C à vous”, broadcast on France 5, Monday February 5. “I therefore sent injunctions to all manufacturers and distributors” whose contracts are not compliant, continued the minister.
“They have fifteen days to explain why they did not comply and to comply, failing which manufacturers and distributors will each face a fine of up to 5 million euros”threatened Bruno Le Maire, promising to make their names public.
Responding to the accusations of Michel-Edouard Leclerc, the spokesperson for the leading brand in the sector E.Leclerc, who considers himself targeted ” personally “ by “a group of deputies” of the majority, Bruno Le Maire indicated that E.Leclerc is not ” no more no less “ in the government’s sights. “The five distributors are all affected by the investigations” launched and “no one will slip through the cracks”, assured the number two in the government. He displayed his firmness: “Sanctions will fall on all those who cheated. »
Concerning purchasing centers domiciled abroad which would allow distributors to circumvent the law, Bruno Le Maire declared that controls are in progress and recalled that “any product sold in France must comply with French law”.
Food prices will increase
The prices of food products will increase on average by 2% to 3% in France following these negotiations, added Mr. Le Maire. “A quarter of food prices will fall”said the Minister of the Economy on France 5, promising that the reduction would take place ” right away “ while the commercial negotiations concluded on January 31.
“It’s not going to be 10%, it’s going to be 1, it could be 2, it could be 3%”he added, citing pasta, sugar, coffee, cereals and oils. “Afterwards, overall there will be an increase on all products which will be contained between 2% and 3%. »