Freshfel Europe

European fresh produce association Freshfel has moved to criticise the European Commission's decision this week to alter regulations on the market standards of certain fruit and vegetables.

EU member states voted in favour of EC proposals to repeal existing standards on 26 different types of fresh produce – a move designed to simplify regulations and cut red tape, according to commissioner for agriculture and rural development Mariann Fischer Boel.

However, Freshfel has slammed the move as 'populist' and stirred by a media campaign, despite widespread opposition from member states such as Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Poland.

'It is astonishing to see how the European Commission embarked on such a costly media campaign to support the rationale of its proposal,' said Philippe Binard, general delegate of Freshfel Europe.

'The commission launched a significant and disproportionate media campaign to inform the public about the proposal and its potential benefits, communicating about a decision on this matter even before the discussion at the Management Committee level – a step in the EU decision process which is not even the final legal step for the adoption of a proposal!'

The decision has faced a backlash in recent days from a number of quarters. Spanish growers have claimed the move will open up the market to low-quality foreign imports, while BVEO, Germany's association of fresh fruit and vegetable producers'organisations, warned a repeal of the regulations wouldlead to an explosion of different market standards developed by retailers andtraders.

Paolo Bruni, president of Italian fresh produce company Apo Conerpo andItaly's National Federation of Agricultural and Agri-Food Cooperatives(Fedagri-Confcooperative), labelled the European Commission'sdecision to remove marketing standards for certain fresh fruits andvegetables 'a joke', warning it will bring about an inevitable race tothe bottom in terms of prices, to the detriment of quality production.

'We feel the EC has used the marketing standards dossier solely to fulfil its own communication agenda, without at any time seriously having taken into account the points of view of the fruit and vegetable sector,' Mr Binard added. 'The commission's proposal could lead to unripe or undesirable produce possibly ending up on the market - those lower quality produce could damage the already very sensible fruit and vegetable market.'

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