The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has declared an international conference on fruit and vegetable marketing standards it held in Sussex earlier this month a success.
Members of RPA’s Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate (HMI) attended the harmonisation meeting on marketing standards’ interpretation and enforcement. This was designed to help fruit and vegetable inspectors agree on how best to apply marketing standards throughout the EU and worldwide.
The event was officially recognised by the European Commission and the UN/ECE agriculture section. Delegates from countries including South Africa, Malaysia and Israel debated interpretations of the strict marketing rules using practical exercises handling fresh produce, much of which was donated by the UK industry. The UK banana import industry presented an overview of their sector and collaboration with HMI in formulating new import control procedures following DEFRA and EC policy reviews.
RPA operations director Paul Caldwell said: “The practical sessions broke down longstanding, cross-border issues, levelling out differences in applying the marketing regulations across Europe. Lessons learned at the meeting will directly improve the advice we can give our customers, helping them succeed in the highly competitive international fresh produce industry.”
RPA welcomed 30 delegates from 22 countries to the conference on 12-14 June. Dutch delegate Fed Jacob said: “HMI is to be thanked for this unique event which provides the environment to discuss our issues and make real changes. The UK interpretations of technical issues, and the sessions delivered by their Inspectors on this course, are of the highest standard.”
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