GCCA Welcomes EU Stockpiling Strategy but Urges Clarity on Key Questions for the Food Cold Chain

Brussels, 15 July 2025 – The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) welcomes the European Commission’s evolving strategy on stockpiling essential goods as a positive step towards greater resilience in the face of future crises. The strategy reinforces commitment to the European Food Supply Chain Mechanism (EFSCM) as the coordinator between the EU, Member States and industry. It commits to deepening public-private cooperation and investing in real-time monitoring of European food supplies.  

Julie Hanson, Europe Director at GCCA, said: 

“We commend the Commission for including food in the future EU stockpiling strategy and for recognising the vital role of logistics in ensuring food security during times of disruption. This strategy lays the groundwork for much-needed cooperation between governments and food logistics operators.” 

However, while the GCCA welcomes the broad direction of the strategy, it also urges the Commission to swiftly provide clarity on several key areas that remain undefined in the current draft. 

“There are still major gaps in detail that urgently need addressing,” Hanson continued. “We need clear answers on fundamental questions—such as what qualifies as ‘essential goods’ in the food sector, how minimum stock levels will be set and enforced, and what expectations will be placed on private cold chain logistics operators across the EU.” 

“European food security depends in large part on the quality and capacity of the infrastructure available to store and transport goods. We will also continue to advocate for policy action to remove barriers that hinder much-needed investment in our food logistics infrastructure. This includes access to affordable energy at all times, particularly during times of crisis. As well as removing bureaucratic barriers to the construction and modernisation of vital infrastructure at all levels of government.”  

The GCCA identifies the following as priority concerns for the cold chain industry: 

• Definition of Essential Goods: Clear criteria are needed for what food products—including fresh, chilled, frozen, and packaged goods—will be covered by EU and Member State stockpiling mandates. 

• Data Sharing & Governance: There must be investment in plugging key data gaps and transparency around what data logistics companies will be required to share, how it will be protected, and how this aligns with commercial confidentiality. 

• Cold Chain Capacity & Infrastructure Incentives: The Commission must outline how cold chain logistics operators—especially SMEs—will be supported in meeting any new obligations, including removing bureaucratic barriers  

• Cross-Border Logistics Planning: A detailed operational blueprint is needed for how emergency freight—particularly temperature-controlled shipments—will be prioritised during EU-wide disruptions. 

• Roles, Responsibilities, and Compliance: Businesses should be incentivised, not mandated to hold stock, and details must be provided on what compliance burdens they may face, and the timelines for implementation. 

Julie Hanson concluded: 

“The cold chain sector stands ready to partner with EU institutions and national authorities, but cooperation must be based on clarity, practicality, and shared risk. The resilience of Europe’s food supply depends not only on the businesses that operate our warehouses and transportation fleets, but also on joined-up policy making that reflects the realities of food logistics. We urge the Commission to work closely with our industry to turn this strategy into a workable plan that strengthens preparedness without compromising supply chain efficiency.” 

About GCCA 

The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) represents all major segments of the temperature-controlled supply chain, supporting logistics businesses that are essential to global food security. GCCA Europe advocates for policies that ensure the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of cold chain logistics across the European Union. 

Media Contacts: 
Lindsay Shelton-Gross, Senior VP Global Communications, Marketing, and Strategic Initiatives
lsheltongross@gcca.org

Shane Brennan, Senior SVP, Strategy, Partnerships, and Policy
sbrennan@gcca.org