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Trade Rules, Regulations and Standards: Implementation of Agricultural Standards

Fruit and VegetablesFruit and Vegetablesfor the Fresh Marketfor the Fresh Market

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German Federal Agencyfor Agriculture and Food

Section Marketing Standards and Inspection

Ulrike Bickelmann

Trade Rules, Regulations and Standards: Implementation of Agricultural Standards

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Why marketing standards for fruit and vegetables?

f & v grow naturally

quality is influenced by cultivation, harvest, storage, handling and transport conditions

trading volume & price influenced by quality

producers & traders grade their produce to best serve the market

standards serve as a trading language

Trade Rules, Regulations and Standards: Implementation of Agricultural Standards

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Positive effects of standards

technical definition of quality parameters

labelling as a reference (address, country of origin, quality class )

reliability & credibility & profitability increased

contract without personal inspection by the buyer

transparency in the market

Trade Rules, Regulations and Standards: Implementation of Agricultural Standards

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Multiplication of positive effects

company (producer, trader)

region (producer association)

country (national standard)

two countries or more (international standard)

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Negative effects of national standards

valid for one country only

exporters have to meet the national standards of the different importing countries

importing countries should accept multiple export standards

trade is complicated and paved with conflicting regulations

barriers to trade established in national law

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Negative effects of national standards

National standards for potatoes

Class I Class II Out of grade

Germany 31 % 8 % 51 %

Germany (disc) 6 % 32 % 62 %

Austria 72 % 11 % 17 %

Trade Rules, Regulations and Standards: Implementation of Agricultural Standards

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Positive effects of international standards

developed and agreed by exporting and importing countries

technical barriers to trade avoided

market transparency increased

competition based on uniform minimum standards

Trade Rules, Regulations and Standards: Implementation of Agricultural Standards

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UN/ECEUnited Nations - Economic Commission for Europe

Committee on Trade

Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

Dry and Dried Fruit

Seed Potatoes

Meat

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Why UNECE Standards?

to define a common trading language

to fill the gap between food safety regulations and marketing

to define commercial quality for foodstuffs

to encourage high quality production

to protect consumer’s interests

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Process of elaborating a standard

Rapporteur prepares/amends text

Specialized Section discusses

text in detail

Specialized Section and Working Party agree to create/amend a standard

Working Party discusses text in general

UN/ECE StandardUN/ECE

Recommendation for a 2+1 year trial period

http://www.unece.org/trade/agr/welcome.htm

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UNECE Standards enshrined in EU legislation

Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables

classification using common obligatory standards provides a reference framework that

encourages fair trading and market transparency

eliminates products of unsatisfactory quality from the market

helps to improve the profitability of production

standards take into account UNECE standards

standardisation can only be fully effective when applied, subject to exemption, at all marketing stages and on departure from the production region

Trade Rules, Regulations and Standards: Implementation of Agricultural Standards

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European Union Marketing Standards

ApplesAvocadosCherriesCitrus fruit (oranges, lemons, mandarins)Hazelnuts in shellKiwifruitMelonsPeaches and NectarinesPearsPlumsStrawberries Table grapesWatermelonsWalnuts in shell

Trade Rules, Regulations and Standards: Implementation of Agricultural Standards

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European Union Marketing Standards

ArtichokesAsparagusAuberginesBeansBrussels SproutsCarrots Cauliflower CourgettesCucumbersCultivated MushroomsGarlicHeaded CabbagesLeeksLettuces and Endives

OnionsRibbed CeleryPeasSpinachSweet PeppersTomatoesWitloof Chicory

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European Union Marketing Standards

I. Definition of produce

II. Provisions concerning quality

- Minimum requirements - Maturity requirements - Classification

III. Provisions concerning sizing

IV. Provisions concerning tolerances

V. Provisions concerning presentation

VI. Provisions concerning marking

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European Union Marketing Standards

Class Extra

Class I

Class II

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European Union Marketing Standards

packer/dispatcher name of produce - variety/commercial typecountry of originquality classsize

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European marketing standards

obligatory in all member states

obligatory at all marketing stages (including import and export)

conformity checks

in accordance with Regulation (EC) no. 1148/2001

at all levels of distribution

based on risk analysis and sampling

resentment based on national law of the member states

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Import Inspection in Germany - 2006

Trade Rules, Regulations and Standards: Implementation of Agricultural Standards

32,848 lots = 131,719 tons notified 10,652 lots = 100,191 tons inspected

of which 5 % rejections

because of

labelling deterioration

physiological defects skin defects cleanliness

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Thank you for attention!

Trade Rules, Regulations and Standards: Implementation of Agricultural Standards