Progress with PIP

The Pesticides Initiative Programme (PIP) ñ funded by the EU in support of the ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) export sector in its efforts to cope with Europe's food quality and safety regulations ñ has reached the half-way stage. Two years after the start of the programme, applications to PIP now represent more than 50 per cent by volume of total fruit and vegetables exported from the ACP countries to Europe. This represents 200,000 tonnes of produce annually, with a value of some 185 million euros.