FOOD CHECK. The rumor of a food check resurfaced after the latest statements by the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire, despite the many difficulties in setting it up.
[Mis à jour le 7 mars 2023 à 09h54] After many twists and turns and in particular disappointments, the food voucher is making a comeback on the front of the stage! Indeed, this year 2023 could well be the right one for this device for a time shunned by the government, in particular because of its complexity of implementation. However, Monday, March 6, the Minister of Economy Bruno the Mayor spoke following a meeting with representatives of large retailers, and the Minister Delegate for Trade, Olivia Grégoire. The tenant of Bercy thus confirmed the future implementation of such a device: “There will be a food check for the most modest. This food check will be made on a territorial basis, no doubt the department in order to be as close as possible to consumers and producers. An experiment will be launched in the coming monthsIt now remains to know the precise details of this food check, who will be entitled to it? What will be the date of payment? What will be the conditions to be fulfilled to claim it?
As a reminder, the Rural Families association recently made a request to the government, based on its annual price observatory, published on Wednesday 22 February. According to the organization, a family of two adults and two children needs at least 477 euros per month to eat properly. However, this amount is 65 euros higher than what a family living at the poverty line can afford. De facto, the association is asking the executive for monthly aid for the most modest French households in an unprecedented inflationary context (13.3% in January 2023 over one year).
The fund for sustainable food aid of 60 million euros, desired by Elisabeth Borne (who could take charge of the food voucher) could be managed by certain large national networks, and regional prefects through “local projects”. “The latter” will be able to support initiatives (…) between farmers, producers who will also be able to offer short circuits for quality food.
Originally, in the first food voucher project, the scholarship studentsthe beneficiaries of housing benefits (PLA) even if they no longer live with their parents, as well as the beneficiaries of social minima like the RSA, theSSAI’AAHor even theASPA should have benefited from the food voucher. Finally, the latter received the inflation bonus, or exceptional back-to-school bonus of 100 euros on September 15th. The government should communicate quickly about the new beneficiaries of this system which should “finally” see the light of day, in 2023, despite significant implementation constraints.
The possible food check corresponding to the aid of 60 million euros is not on the program of the 2023 budget. So, it is difficult to know the exact terms of this new food check, and a potential payment date if a such a formula was retained for 2023.
If the recommendations of the association Rural families were to convince the government, this “new look” food check could see the light of day in the course of 2023. However, no exact date has yet been communicated despite the latest announcements by the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire, on Monday March 6.