Fears table grapes will be left off the list for the positive use of sulphur dioxide are growing, Freshel Europe has reported.
The latest news from the European Commission is that the issue of the use of SO2 on grapes has arisen too late to be included in the impending amendment to the EU directive regarding the use of food additives.
A spokesman for the Freshfel secretariat said: "This causes us concern as we believe table grapes should be added to the positive list of commodities which can be treated with SO2, and a residue tolerance of 10mg/kg be set."
However with the issue being kept off the list, the industry could find itself unable to use SO2 pads with grapes.
"This will be a real problem for produce coming in from the southern hemisphere," said Freshfel.
The organisation now has to lobby member states in a bid to ensure an amendment to include grapes is put forward when the directive is discussed in council.
Meanwhile, innovative packaging producer Long Life Solutions has developed a potential organic alternative to the SO2 pad.
The ‘Smart granule’ sachets work in conjunction with the company’s ‘Smartbag’ technology to increase shelf life and reduce rot, said David Wilkinson, sales director. "We’ve been conducting trials on grapes from Brazil to Germany and they have been keeping the stems fresh, with no fruit drop off.
"It’s been approved by the Soil Association as organic, and you can even throw it in the garden afterwards and use it as fertilizer."
According to Wilkinson, the sachets remove ethylene gas and maintain the packed atmosphere free from micro-organisms which can cause rotting. They also reduce the respiration rate of the fruit, thereby reducing weight loss and shrivelling.
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