Food supplies include bulk consumable commodities, such as mixed foods, ready-to-use foods, fortified foods with added vitamins and minerals, and supplementary foods to address moderate malnutrition. They do not include seeds for agricultural purposes. 

Food supplies purchased by the Partner must comply with the quality standards laid down in the national legislation of the country of origin and/or the country of destination, whichever has the higher quality standard. 

Whenever possible and advisable, having due regard to the context in which the Action is implemented, and provided it does not substantially disturb the local beneficiary markets, priority must be given to purchases in the country of operation or in neighbouring countries. The Partner must obtain evidence based on local/regional market analysis that local/regional procurement would not induce market distortions which could adversely affect vulnerable populations. 

The Partner is responsible for ensuring the quantity and quality of the supplies, including their packaging and marking: 

1. when awarding urgent contracts or contracts with a value not exceeding EUR 300 000, the Partner may itself certify the quantity and quality of the supplies, by means of a suitably qualified member of staff; 
2. (ii) when awarding contracts of a value exceeding EUR 300 000, the Partner must engage an independent recognised verification or inspection entity, namely a Monitoring Agency, which will assume responsibility for verifying and certifying the quantity and quality of the supplies. Where a Monitoring Agency is used, the Partner must include in the contractual documents the necessary provisions, so as to assure the right of access for DG ECHO. 

The proof of quality of food that Partners need to record in their files corresponds to the quality certificate issued by the persons / institutions detailed above.