The European Commission has launched a public consultation to analyse the future of Europe’s fruit and vegetable sectors.
Theconsultation, part of a review of sector reforms that went live in 2007, will look at how the fresh produce industry’s market competitiveness and resilience can be improved.
The EC said the deadly E. coli outbreak in Germany last year and a “persistent imbalance” in the bargaining power of fresh produce growers against distributors has forced its hand in examining whether changes were needed to the 2007 reforms.
Hayley Campbell-Gibbons, the UK-based NFU’s chief horticulture adviser, welcomed the public consultation. “The timing of this consultation sits very well with the impending launch of our own supply chain recommendations in July, and we will be sure to communicate the findings of our report at an EU level,” she said.
“Certainly,the need to bring about constructive changes to the way retailers and other buyers interact with growers has never been greater for UK growers.”
The consultation will seek views on how to increase Europe’s consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as examining how producers can increase their “share of value” in the fresh produce supply chain, possibly by improving the bargaining power of growers.
Campbell-Gibbonsbelieves the consultation could positively increase UK growers’ understanding of the PO scheme and help drive produce businesses forward.
She added: “Given the continued uncertainty that hangs over the implementation of the PO scheme in the UK, I’ve no doubt that our members will also see the Commission’s proposed measures as a genuine opportunity to sort out some of the ongoing problems with the operation of the scheme.”
The EC stated: “The EC is putting forward four options for its future approach to the sector. These are: keeping the status quo; introducing a package of new measures to strengthen producer organisations and encourage better co-operation between producers; transferring some support measures for producers to rural development programmes (the ‘second pillar’); and getting rid of aseparate support regime for the fruit and veg sector and transferring everything to the second pillar.”
The consultation runs until 9 September, with a report to be published next May.
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