News & Press Releases - Fair procurement for the public sector 09 May 2021 Exchange meetings on sustainable public procurement: Procurement law, supply chain law and Co. The annual exchange and networking meeting focused on the current ‘hot topics’ of procurement: Supply chain law, strategy development and experience with the costs of sustainable procurement. Collegial advice At the beginning of May, buyers, coordinators for development policy and other committed people from all over Germany came together for an online exchange meeting. Participants discussed current topics, reported on their own successes and challenges and consulted in a collegial atmosphere. Current legal issues As in recent years, André Siedenberg (lawyer & expert for public procurement law) provided advice and assistance. He reported on current decisions and developments concerning supply chain management; in particular how due diligence obligations of suppliers can be taken into account in procurement procedures. We then worked on a ‘procurement myth’, which persists and is repeatedly challenged by those engaged: Sustainably procuring is too expensive. Mara Mürlebach (FEMNET) gave some ideas as an impetus; The participants then discussed experiences from their communities. Supply Chain Law and Procurement Law Gisela Burckhardt (FEMNET) reported on the current status of the Supply Chain Act and mentioned in particular weaknesses of the draft law, which is currently being discussed in the Bundestag. André Siedenberg concluded by highlighting the impact a supply chain law will have on public procurement.
