European supermarkets’ practice of demanding multiple certification standards from growers is ‘incredible and arrogant’ according to John Pandol of US-based importer Pandol Brothers.
Talking as a representative of eight grape producers in Mexico, Pandol told FPJ he sees no benefit in benchmarking the whole of any country with EurepGAP standards, as for some supermarkets, this standard is still not enough.
“One of the largest UK multiples effectively said EurepGAP is not enough and has additional criteria,” he said. “With all the national and international organisations - with all their resources and studies with diplomatic status and treaty signing capability - it does seem both incredible and arrogant that a food retailing company can supersede their work product,” he said. “Until governments get serious about prohibiting private companies from regulating health and labour through standards, the proposal of certifying an entire country to another country’s market standard has no merit.”
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