1 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System Fruit and Vegetables for the Fresh Market

2 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System German Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food Section Marketing Standards and Inspection Ulrike Bickelmann

3 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System Why marketing standards for fruit and vegetables? â f & v grow naturally â quality is influenced by cultivation, harvest, storage, handling and transport conditions â trading volume & price influenced by quality â producers & traders grade their produce to best serve the market â standards serve as a trading language

4 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System Positive effects of standards â technical definition of quality parameters â labelling as a reference (address, country of origin, quality class ) â reliability & credibility & profitability increased â contract without personal inspection by the buyer â transparency in the market

5 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System Multiplication of positive effects company (producer, trader) region (producer association) country (national standard) two countries or more (international standard)

6 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System Negative effects of national standards â valid for one country only â exporters have to meet the national standards of the different importing countries â importing countries should accept multiple export standards â trade is complicated and paved with conflicting regulations â barriers to trade established in national law

7 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System Negative effects of national standards National standards for potatoes Class I Class IIOut of grade Germany 31 % 8 %51 % Germany (disc) 6 %32 %62 % Austria 72 %11 %17 %

8 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System Positive effects of international standards â developed and agreed by exporting and importing countries â technical barriers to trade avoided â market transparency increased â competition based on uniform minimum standards

9 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System UN/ECE United 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

10 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System Why UNECE Standards? â to define a common trading language â to fill the gap between food safety regulations and marketing â to define commercial quality for foodstuffs â to encourage high quality production â to protect consumers interests

11 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System 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 Standard UN/ECE Recommendation for a 2+1 year trial period

12 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System UNECE Standards enshrined in EU legislation â Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables â classification using common obligatory standards provides a reference framework that â encourages fair trading and market transparency â eliminates products of unsatisfactory quality from the market â helps to improve the profitability of production â standards take into account UNECE standards â standardisation can only be fully effective when applied, subject to exemption, at all marketing stages and on departure from the production region

13 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System European Union Marketing Standards Apples Avocados Cherries Citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, mandarins) Hazelnuts in shell Kiwifruit Melons Peaches and Nectarines Pears Plums Strawberries Table grapes Watermelons Walnuts in shell

14 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System European Union Marketing Standards Artichokes Asparagus Aubergines Beans Brussels Sprouts Carrots Cauliflower Courgettes Cucumbers Cultivated Mushrooms Garlic Headed Cabbages Leeks Lettuces and Endives Onions Ribbed Celery Peas Spinach Sweet Peppers Tomatoes Witloof Chicory

15 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System 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

16 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System European Union Marketing Standards Class Extra Class I Class II

17 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System European Union Marketing Standards packer/dispatcher name of produce - variety/commercial type country of origin quality class size

18 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System European marketing standards â obligatory in all member states â obligatory at all marketing stages (including import and export) â conformity checks â in accordance with Regulation (EC) no. 1148/2001 â at all levels of distribution â based on risk analysis and sampling â resentment based on national law of the member states

19 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System Import Inspection in Germany ,062 lots = 129,376 tons of which 3 % rejections because of labelling deterioration physiological defects skin defects cleanliness

20 International Standards in the Multilateral Trading System Thank you for attention!