Brussels, 06/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - The future of quality certification schemes, their functioning in the internal market, as well as their benefits and potential, were examined and discussed by stakeholders and experts at the Conference "Food Quality Certification - Adding Value to Farm Produce" in Brussels on 5-6 February 2007. The conference brought together stakeholders and representatives of all interested parties. It follows a two-year "Food Quality Schemes" pilot project undertaken by the Commission's research arm, the Joint Research Centre (JRC).
"Quality production is a key issue for the Commission, to ensure the future of European agriculture and to promote rural development," said Mariann Fischer Boel, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. "Quality logos are a good tool to promote quality but they only make sense when it is totally clear what they stand for. Each consumer must have the possibility to know what they mean." In a press release, the European Commission points out that the EU's standards for food placed on the market are among the toughest in the world: whether EU produced or imported, all food meets high standards of safety and hygiene. In addition, EU farmers and producers also adhere to detailed rules concerning animal welfare, environmental protection, and labour and employment standards. Compliance with these rules is costly for farmers, who often don't receive a higher price for their products than their international counterparts. Mariann Fischer Boel said that “an EU labelling scheme or logo might be a way to pass the message about EU standards more effectively”. However, she added “I have lots of questions and I know many stakeholders are sceptical”. Further study is needed to examine exactly how an EU label would work, the Commission points out.
Certification schemes can assist farmers to communicate better with consumers about food. The best certification schemes can give farmers access to key markets; help consumers make informed purchasing decisions; and keep more of the value-added in rural areas. However, there are a number of concerns about the ways in which some schemes have developed, explains the press release.
Farmers speak of duplicative controls, and high costs for scheme participants. The Commission would encourage scheme owners to use benchmarking, promote recognition and reduce duplicative audits and controls. Farmers and first-stage processors should participate in the development and operation - if not the ownership - of certification schemes.
Potential barriers to free movement in the single market must be addressed as well as difficulties for exporters from developing countries, explains the Commission. Observers might be astonished that product logos might constitute a potential barrier to free movement in the single market or be damaging to developing country exporters, but the press release continues: 'Authorities in the member states and the Commission must ensure respect of single market rules and prevent abuse of dominant positions or cartel behaviour. Farmers and stakeholders in developing countries should play a role in the development of schemes affecting imports. Technical assistance should be provided under development aid programmes.'
It was agreed at the conference that further research was needed into the economics of food quality schemes, in particular impacts on farm incomes and on rural development. (oj)
Further information can be found at:
http: //ec.europa.eu/agriculture/events/qualityconference/index_en.htm
and http: //foodqualityschemes.jrc.es