Freshfel president Kai Krasemann was scathing in his criticism of Eurep Gap at last week's Eurofruit Congress.

'Eurep Gap is not for the producer, it is a retail led and run by a company in Cologne that has commercial interests in achieving its goals,' he said. 'Our belief is that there should be a single assurance scheme, owned by the industry and not by a company that is making money out of the process.' Retail division chairman Marc De Naeyer added: 'Clearly the industry needs such a system and while there is no better alternative to Eurep Gap we will support it. But we can do things as a industry to ensure that we are not being dictated to by outside companies.' Krasemann also singled out the lack of harmonisation of pesticide residues as the most likely potential problem for the industry. There is a situation on the horizon where a significant number of chemicals routinely used on fresh produce will no longer be permitted, and that Maximum Residue Levels for many chemicals on most products will be set at zero. 'This is the only issue that could run the industry into big trouble,' he said. 'It is being addressed by the association and the supply chain as a whole.' The import division of Freshfel is putting a total quality standards manual. Chairman Ramón Rey of Angel Rey explained: 'We want to ensure that everybody producing fruit and vegetables for the European marketplace is working to the same set of standards. And we will put all of this together in one manual, which will be published by February and the costs will be supported by the EU.

'We need to be committed and decisive to move forward - understanding both our strengths and weaknesses as an industry. Harmonisation of standards will happen, but not overnight. It needs the full co-operation of every sector of the industry.'

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