EurepGAP chairman Nigel Garbutt has called for the industry to unite behind the principles of the European retail partnership’s now global production standard, and embrace the desire for transparency throughout the supply chain.
A suppliers statement at last month’s annual conference in Prague hinted at a fissure in the relationship between the different sectors of the chain. However, Garbutt told FPJ this is not the case and stressed that the structure is now in place for every sector to have its voice heard on an equal basis.
“The key thing we are looking for is co-operation within the industry. We want to see people working together in the spirit of open-ness and transparency,” he said. “We have openly looked at any specific proposals for changes to the standards and many of the trade associations and bodies [that were instrumental in making the statement] are part of the process.
“Suppliers views are listened to by EurepGAP. We are certainly not retail driven to the extent we perhaps were four or five years ago,” he said. “Suppliers are in a position to influence it from the inside, as they have representatives on our working groups and committees.”
Garbutt, pictured, added that the conference in fact addressed many of the issues raised in the suppliers’ statement [p1, last week’s FPJ]. “We laid out our activity plan, detailing exactly what we are doing and the costs that go with that. We have 130 certification bodies signed up and operate in more than 70 countries worldwide. And our retail membership is increasing rapidly.”
The effect of new supermarket signatories around the world is combining with the globalisation of the retail world to widen EurepGAP’s remit with every passing month. Tesco, for instance, recommends that suppliers to its international store network are accredited by the standard.
“As retailers and the supply chain globalise, the whole thing grows exponentially in its complexity,” Garbutt said. “But wider adoption of the standard is excellent news for growers. As long as it is consistently operated, it will deliver the level playing field that is the most important thing for growers.”
