Workshop on International Trade of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables: The role of Standards and Quality Inspection systems 20-21 November 2017 Bangkok, Thailand
International Standards for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Dr. Ulrike Bickelmann Federal Office for Agriculture and Food, Germany qualitaetskontrolle@ble.de
Why Marketing Standards? Trade develops standards To define clear quality To provide uniform quality although different producers and suppliers may be involved To allow trade without previous inspection of the produce To have a basis for contracts 3
Production Harvest Uniform Offer Preparation Storage Transportation Marketing Standards Import Export 4
Marketing Standards Create Markets Minimum quality Transparency Consumers satisfaction Inspection Creates Confidence 5
Marketing Standards and Governments Establishment of legally binding / obligatory standards Definition of scope of standards (marketing stages) Supervision that standards are respected Cooperation with international standard setting bodies Respecting International Agreements such as WTO-TBT = Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade 6
Quality of Agricultural Produce Basic requirements of European Union Safety, hygiene, identity, residues, environment etc. Quality requirements of European Union Marketing standards Definition of (basic) product quality Protection and information of consumers Guarantee fair competition and market transparency 7
Regulations of European Union Marketing standards are obligatory at all stages of marketing The holder/seller of the produce is responsible for respecting the marketing standards The produce must be sound, fair and marketable 10 specific marketing standards 1 general marketing standard Option to apply UNECE standards as an equivalent to the general marketing standard. 8
9 EU Specific Marketing Standards
Specific Marketing Standards I. Definition of produce II. Provisions on quality III. Sizing - Minimum requirements - Maturity requirements - Classification (Extra, I, II) IV. Tolerances V. Presentation VI. Marking / labelling 10
EU General Marketing Standard All marketed fruit and vegetables minus the species covered by the 10 specific marketing standards 11
General Marketing Standards 1. Minimum quality 2. Minimum maturity 3. Tolerances 4. Marking / labelling 12
EU UNECE Standards Fruit and vegetables not covered by a specific marketing standard shall conform to the general marketing standard. However, where the holder is able to show that the products are in conformity with any applicable standards adopted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), they shall be considered as conforming to the general marketing standard. UNECE Standards are product specific provide provisions on classification, sizing and presentation 13 http://www.unece.org/trade/agr/standard/fresh/ffv-standardse.html
European Union International Standard Setting 14 UNECE Codex Alimentarius Commission
15 Economic Commission for Europe
Regional Commissions of the United Nations UNECE ESCWA ESCAP ECLAC ECA UNECE = only Regional Commission of the United Nations developing agricultural standards for trade All UN Member states participate in the work 16
Agricultural Quality and the United Nations United Nations General Assembly United Nations Economic and Social Council United Nations Economic Commission for Europe UNECE Steering Committee on Trade Capacity and Standards UNECE Working Party of Agricultural Quality Standards (WP.7) UNECE Specialized Sections Fresh Fruit and vegetables Dry and dried Produce Seed potatoes Meat 17
UNECE Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards Quality for Trade Since 1946 In UNECE, impact of food quality on trade and economic development was fully recognized after WWII RESULT development of an internationally agreed uniform framework (standard format) defining quality criteria PURPOSE define the quality requirements at the all marketing stages after preparation and packaging SCOPE produce intended for direct consumption, NOT for industrial processing. ensure transparency in trade and good, nutrious eating quality 18
HOW UNECE STANDARDS ARE DEVELOPED 19 Demand-driven Inclusive and open development and adoption process All UN member countries participate with the same rights Input comes from all parties involved Public and private sector Producing, exporting and importing countries at all stages evaluation before standards are adopted Cooperation with all other international organizations Flexible, inter-active, responsive process (revisions when needed) Standards are adapted to reflect emerging new varieties or changing producing, marketing, trading and regulatory conditions Standards can be revised at any moment per request Decisions are taken on a consensus basis
Specialized Section and Working Party agree to create / revise a standard Rapporteurs prepare / amend text Specialized Section discusses text in detail UNECE Standard Developing a standard Working Party adopts the final text as a standard Working Party adopts the proposed text for trial UNECE Recommendation trial period ( 1-2 years ) Specialized Section recommends adoption or trial Text for adoption or revision
21 Fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts, dried fruit, meat, eggs, seed potatoes Over 800 experts involved Over 100 voluntary marketing/quality standards Explanatory guides Standards and guidelines help with the grading of produce ensure uniform interpretation reduce risk of rejection help resolve disputes provide guidance (disease guides, terms used, coding references) for producers, traders, buyers, inspectors
Implementing UNECE Standards UNECE STANDARDS Creating international best practice GOVERNMENT EU OECD PRIVATE SECTOR National Standard EU Regulation Explanatory Brochures Reference in Contracts 22
Co-operation of International Standard Setting Organisations Standards Brochures Standards
UNECE Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards (WP.7) Specialized Section on Standardization of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Standards today fresh fruit and vegetables 60 standards 4 explanatory brochure sweet peppers, chilli peppers, pineapples, persimmons Glossary of terms dry and dried produce 23 standards 3 explanatory brochure inshell walnuts, walnut kernels, whole dried chilli peppers 2013/24
UNECE Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards (WP.7) Specialized Section on Standardization of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Work in progress Possible new structure of standard for citrus fruit Items that impact on UNECE work as a result of decisions taken by the Codex Committee on FFV Check standards for provisions provoking unnecessary food waste Standard Layout: quality tolerances, general amendments related to food waste, indication of importer as an alternative to exporter Review list of varieties for table grapes Baseline quality requirements Code of good handling practice of FFV Any further requests to be submitted by end-february 2018 to the Secretariat
UNECE Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards (WP.7) Specialized Section on Standardization of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Capacity building Regional workshops Funded by countries or specific trust funds Organised by secretariat National experts
UNECE Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards (WP.7) Specialized Section on Standardization of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Report of the 65 th session 2 to 5 May 2017 in Geneva Document: ECE/CTCS/WP.7/GE.1/2017/2 attended by 23 countries: Albania, Austria, Brazil, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Macedonia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America observers: Commission of the European Union, FAO/WHO, OECD guests: Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
Chair Dr. Ulrike Bickelmann (Germany) qualitaetskontrolle@ble.de Vice-Chair Dr. Kristina Mattsson (Sweden) jordbruksverket@svj.se Head, Agricultural Quality Standards Unit Liliana Annovazzi-Jakab (UNECE) agristandards@unece.org
29 http://www.unece.org/trade/agr/standard/fresh/ffv-standardse.html
European Union Member states and Commission of European Union take part at the meetings of the Specialized Sections and of the Working Party for Agricultural Quality Specific marketing standards of EU are based on respective UNECE standard Any amendment of UNECE standards is reflected in the respective specific marketing standard Regulation on quality control Implements the OECD inspection method Refers to OECD explanatory material 30
Legislation in EU Example Germany EU-Commission Regulations on Standards Regulations on Inspection Federal Government in Germany Federal competence Disorders Punishments Governments of the Federal States Competent authority Fees 31
International standards and brochures are voluntary are taken as reference in (international) trade Why should countries participate? to support their stakeholders interest to develop and agree on harmonized international standards, explanatory material and inspection methods to develop the basis of national standards
International Standards for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables and Now Time for Your Questions 33