WUWM - Proposals for CMO reforms "highly regrettable"

The World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) has spoken out against proposals by the European Commission to reform the Common Market Organisation for fruit and vegetables.

The organisation drafted a statement at its conference in Turin last week.

WUWM recognised that the consumption of fruit and vegetables in Europe has tended towards a decline in the last five years, but stated that “an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption will go through a necessary process of improving the quality and taste of products offered to consumers” and that the proposal to drop the existing system in terms of trading norms is “highly regrettable”.

The wide-ranging proposals are intended to bring the sector closer into line with rest of the reformed Common Agricultural Policy.

The main aims of the reforms, according to the Agriculture and Rural Development department of the European Commission, are to improve the competitiveness and market orientation of the fruit and vegetable sector, reduce income fluctuations resulting from crises, increase consumption, improve environmental protection and, where possible, reduce the administrative burden.

Part of the proposals would see additional support for producer organisations - 60 per cent community co-financing, up from 50 per cent, in areas where production marketed through producer organisations is less than 20 per cent and in new member states - as well as simplification of their rules.

WUWM stated: “The exclusive concentration of EU aid for producer organisations does not seem acceptable without a parallel aperture of these producer organisations and a better inter-professional relationship.

“The future of the fruit and vegetable chain will not only be built by an exclusive dialogue between producer organisations and supermarket buying centres.”

WUWM comprises 111 active wholesale markets throughout the European Union, which sell more than 15 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables.

“Institutional links should be established between producer organisations and wholesale market operators,” WUWM added. “Dialogue should also be sought between inter-professional structures.”