Operational details for the new body were agreed at a meeting in Brussels on December 7 between the board of directors of European importers' association, Cimo and representatives from national fruit and vegetable associations, formerly grouped under Eucofel, across Europe.

The breakthrough has come after two years at the negotiating table and will see the European supply chain united under one umbrella-association.

'We have now reached a consensus among the industry and will be ready to start working for the industry early next year,' said Kai Krasemann, Cimo president and incoming president of the new association.

The EFPA is modelled on the successful format of the UK's trade association for the fresh produce supply chain, the Fresh Produce Consortium, which is a member of the new association. The new body will operate under four divisions representing the export, import, wholesale/distribution and retail segments.

A board of directors will be responsible for the overall management and co-ordination of the association. Its secretariat will be based in Brussels at the Cimo office under the management of Philippe Binard.

At last week's Brussels meeting it was agreed that Krasemann will act as EFPA's president, and Eucofel vice-president and FPC chief executive Doug Henderson will be its vice-president. These appointments and those of the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the divisions will be confirmed at the first general assembly of members on February 20, 2002. Details regarding the frequency of meetings, elections to office and establishing technical committees will be addressed by office-holders and the secretariat in advance of the general assembly so that an operating framework can be put to it for approval.

In the meantime, several working committees concerned with membership, marketing and the budget were set up at last week's Brussels meeting to deal with phasing in EFPA.

The association represents all European countries either through a national association or private companies. 'We have already had interest from some of the central European countries and will make strenuous efforts to encourage membership from countries ahead of their accession to the EU,' said Henderson. 'We also have and will encourage membership from exporting countries world-wide for whom the EU is a major and extremely important market.' The wholesale/distribution division will represent the interests of companies involved in intra-EU trade while the export and import divisions will be concerned with trade with third countries.

'Our intention is to be the representative body for the European fresh produce industry,' said Henderson. 'Grower interests are represented by Copa-Cogeca and all the people in the supply chain will be represented by the European Fresh Produce Association. The association certainly will have teeth and it is not our intention to be a talking shop. A number of issues are already being actively addressed such as liaison with ColeACP over new quality standards and import regulations for produce from third countries. The industry is facing many challenges in different areas including policy development, food safety, standardisation, image and promotion. The new association will deal with these issues and many more for the benefit of its members.'