The Federation of European Manufacturers and Suppliers of Ingredients to the Bakery, Confectionary and Patisserie Industries (Fedima) published an industry-wide Code of Conduct for Responsible Sourcing in the bakery ingredients industry, aimed at Fedima members and all suppliers of the bakery and patisserie industry in Europe. The Code of Conduct provides responsible sourcing standards and guidance for their implementation.
The Code’s standards include compliance with existing laws and regulations, as well as the quality and safety of products and raw materials, ethical business practices, and respect for human rights. A healthy and safe work environment, the minimization of environmental impact, attention to animal welfare, supply chain transparency, and continuous improvement are also identified as key principles to abide by.
All Fedima members endorsed the Code of Conduct for Responsible Sourcing in the bakery value chain, representing over 200 small and large ingredients manufacturing companies across 13 European countries, as a commitment to a favorable policy environment, while supporting the industry’s sustainability.
“Suppliers of our industry must ensure the quality and safety of their products and raw materials, by implementing appropriate measures to prevent contamination, adulteration, and other hazards that could harm consumers’ health,” the document underlines. It will be reviewed regularly and updated whenever necessary, to reflect changes in applicable laws, regulations, and best practices.
Jean-Philippe Michaux, Chair of Fedima’s Sustainability Committee, said: “The European bakery ingredients industry that Fedima represents is operating halfway along the supply chain, between ‘farm’ and ‘fork’, uniquely placed at the crossroads between production and consumption of baked products. Responsible sourcing is a growing challenge to all operators of the bakery value chain and our members are eager to play their part in supplying ingredients that are responsibly sourced to the European bakery sector and its consumers.”
Thomas Lesaffre, President of Fedima, also commented on the document: “With this Code of Conduct, Fedima is showing its proactiveness and commitment to making our industry progressively more sustainable and ethical. Promoting responsible sourcing can often be a challenge, especially for small and medium companies in the bakery supply chain. Now, even the companies that have not established their own supplier code of conduct yet can use Fedima’s Code and its shared standards as a responsible sourcing base to rely on”.
Representing 13 member associations across Europe, Fedima aims to support and grow the baked goods sector by sharing its positions and priorities at the EU level, contributing to policy discussions of relevance for the sector.”
On the engagement of Fedima members, Lesaffre added: “We are particularly proud to see that the Fedima Code of Conduct was advocated for and fully endorsed by all our members, representing over 200 companies across 13 European countries. This is proof that the entire bakery ingredients industry is ready to come together and play its part in advancing common responsible sourcing practices”.
Photo: Fedima website
