The European Fresh Produce Association Freshfel Europe and European producer assembly Areflh have called on European officials to restore and maintain specific compulsory standards for fruit and vegetables in order to ensure fair competition in the marketplace and decent returns to all parts of the supply chain.
In a joint statement, the two bodies said European authorities needed to continue to play an active role in ensuring a 'fair balance between all stakeholders' in the agricultural market.
'Today, the proliferation of private requirements in diverse domains (GAP, phytosanitary issues) is already proving challenging for the agricultural sector, and the drastic cut in the number of specific marketing standards has done anything but alleviate these concerns,' the organisations commented.
'The greatest simplification would be achieved through aligning EU regulation with the standards adopted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and actively engaging in harmonisation efforts at Codex level.'
Given the wide variety of products in certain agricultural categories including fresh fruits and vegetables, a general marketing standard like the one imposed by the EC in July 2009 was only able to accommodate basic requirements for commodities with a limited offer in the EU, the statement continued.
'In this respect, the premature decision of the European Commission earlier this year to drastically cut the number of specific marketing standards for fruit and vegetables could be lamented,' the statement said. 'Specific compulsory marketing standards need to be kept for certain product categories, including fruit and vegetables.'
Despite taking up only 3 per cent of cultivated land within the EU, fresh produce accounts for 17 per cent of the value of its agricultural production with a total value of €50bn. The fruit and vegetable supply chain itself boasts a turnover of more than €120bn, employing around 550,000 people and including more than 2m producers.
The groups added: 'Our associations welcome the European Parliament's commitment regarding agricultural product quality policy. The fruit and vegetable sector is used to complying with strict standards and is ready to adjust its practices in order to cope with specific customer requirements demanded by the market as long as these requirements are workable, reasonable and consistent with international trade policy.'
