Increasing interest by retailers in sourcing limited volumes of what are broadly designated minor crops in comparison with major producers is being thwarted, according to Nigel Thorgrimsson, group technical director of Ardo, a leading produce processor.

He is also the chairman of the GlobalGAP crop protection working group which includes Freshfel and SHAFFE.

He said the reason is because the same pesticides are not available in all countries and in these cases no authorisation exists. The cost of registration however is so expensive that it is not viable.

The impact at retailers scan the world for niche products that countries such as South Africa and Mexico have been disadvantaged. "The problems are getting more acute," he warned.

The EU Commission is aware of the problem, and GlobalGAP formal proposal from GlobalGAP has tabled a formal proposal to try and establish some level of off label approval.