The Europe-wide Ethylene Task Force (ETF) was set up this week under the direction of the EU-African-Caribbean-Pacific Liaison Committee (ColeACP) and European trade body Freshfel.
Agreements have been signed by members and the new group has selected Rivendell Consulting Ltd to prepare and submit the 91/414/EEC dossier to the UK’s Pesticides Safety Directorate - which has been appointed by the European Commission to manage the issue - for evaluation.
The ETF brings together the main distributors of ethylene gas - Air Liquide, Air products, Linde Gas and Praxair, a leading supplier of ethylene generators - Restrain, and the major European banana ripeners - Cobana, Chiquita, Del Monte Fresh Fruits, Dole, Eurobananas, Fruchtimport Van Wylick, Fyffes, Pomona, SH Pratt & Co, Simba SPA and Windward Bananas.
ColeACP is chairing the group through one of its directors Doug Wicks, who is also a director of Capespan Ltd.
“Due to the nature of ethylene and its manufacture this has not been an easy task force to create,” said Wicks. “And being made up of such a large group of organisations it has been difficult to move forward at the pace required. Time is of the essence.
“Without the drive of Catherine Guichard of ColeACP and the added support of Freshfel; I do not believe that this task force would have ever been created. It demonstrates how important industry bodies are in supporting common causes within fresh produce.”
No comments yet