Brussels, 31/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - The farm ministers of France and Germany said after a meeting of the joint French-Spanish fruit and vegetables committee on 28 March 2008 that they would be especially vigilant concerning the criteria for importing fruit and vegetables into the EU. The committee is composed of representatives of fruit and vegetable producers' organisations in the two countries and the meeting was chaired by Josep Puxeu Rocamora, Secretary General for Agriculture and Food at the Spanish agriculture ministry, and Jean-Marie Aurand, Director General of Economic, European and International Policy at the French agriculture ministry.
Fruit and vegetable imports from outside the EU is a subject of huge concern to the industry. France an Spain note their attachment to effective use of the fruit and vegetable import protection mechanism. The two member states have agreed to submit a joint proposal to the European Commission in the near future whereby the relevant management committee would amend the EU's application regulation for the common organisation (CMO) of the market in fresh and processed fruit and vegetables. In view of the problems highlighted by the EU's anti-fraud office OLAF, discussion is needed about how to amend the regulation in order to significantly improve the entry price system, explains a press release from the French farm ministry.
The two farm ministers welcomed the EU's new CMO for fruit and vegetables that came into force on 1 January 2008. The final regulations, very different from the European Commission's initial draft, incorporate most of the requests by France and Spain, explains the press release. Significant improvements have been made, the ministry explains, like ensuring the maintenance of a transitory aid scheme for the fruit and vegetable processing industry; and the introduction of a new crisis prevention and management system. The two ministries have decided on common positions for the debate concerning implementation of the new CMO on the following issues: operational programmes agreed under the old system; the eligibility of environmental management of packaging; and funding criteria for free distribution schemes. The two ministries note positive moves when it comes to harmonising the active substances allowed in EU member states. (L.C.)