Article 53Food procurement

1.For the purposes of pursuing objectives set in Articles 50(2) and Article 55(2), public buyers may also take considerations related to the quality and sustainability of food into account when procuring food, as appropriate, in specifications, award criteria or conditions for the performance of contracts, to the extent that they are related to the subject-matter of the contract.

2.The food-specific considerations referred to in paragraph 1 may relate, in particular, to the following:

(a)fairness and transparency in food supply chains requirements and conditions, in particular a fair renumeration of the farmers involved in the production of procured food;

(b)the organisation of the food supply chain;

(c)requirements or conditions on organic production methods, quality schemes such as geographical indications, and other production methods;

(d)nutritional value and health effects, freshness and seasonality of food criteria;

(e)animal welfare requirements.