One of the biggest concerns of producers around the world when confronted with EurepGAP requirements is the perceived lack of local focus in the international protocols.
Catherine Guichard, delegate general of ColeACP, the association of ACP country produce exporters and EU importers voiced those worries to the Journal after the conference.
There is widespread fear that the imposition of unreasonable regulations on exporters in African and Caribbean countries will favour the larger-scale producers and leave millions of smaller farmers and their workers out in the cold.
Guichard said: “EurepGAP is a major engine for change. But there is a real concern among some smallholders in ACP countries that the increasing demands of compliance could effectively act as a non-tariff barrier. If they lose market share, it could have severe economic and social impacts on their populations. Information simply cannot travel as quickly in the developing world, and rapid response to fast-changing regulatory requirements may be an insuperable challenge.
“These smallholders are certainly not asking for special treatment,” she added. “Two-tier compliance is not an option. But in framing the requirements the regulators should take account of the fact that exotic fruit and vegetables come from exotic locations where conditions are different.
“Then there is the problem of differing conditions in the field. For example, contamination of underground water sources can take place in very different circumstances in different climates.”
Guichard believes that the training of local expertise is the best method to bring costs down to manageable levels, along with the development of local accreditation and certification services. “We are very much involved in that process through the pesticides initiative programme (PIP),” she said.
ColeACP manages the EU-funded PIP, which assists ACP growers to become compliant with EU food safety and traceability regulations. African nations have also created a framework that aims to harmonise agricultural practices across the continent.
“We want to work in partnership with EurepGAP on this and together we can improve the flow of information and the process of education,” said Guichard. “We have had positive signals in this respect at the conference.”
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