Produce sector concerned about EU apple import license
French press through further market protection

Tholen - The European Commission has agreed on the introduction of an import license system for apples from third countries. Starting February 1, the new regime will become effective and will apply for a period of two years. The produce sector has responded with shock, disbelief and anger. Apples represent Europe’s largest fruit import product after bananas and citrus fruits.

Philippe Binard of Freshfel commented that the license system goes against the principles of Free Trade and should remain a temporary measure. The EU has decided in favour of the system to be able to monitor the volumes of EU apple imports, because of supposed discrepancy between European data and figures from Southern Hemisphere exporters.

According to Pipfruit New Zealand the measure is not necessary because exporters already supply accurate data to the EU, but the organisation much rather fears this monitoring will be used to limit import volumes and to implement punitive taxes on exceeding these limitations.

This perspective is probably not far from the truth, as the European Commission clearly approved of the measure under high pressure from France that insists on instilling further protection of its apple growers. The German trade organisation Deutsche Frucht Handels Verband (DFHV) and Dutch equivalent Frugiventa expressed clear opposition against the proposal and managed to raise international support, to no avail.

The changes will most likely not affect consumer prices, but the administration involved will be inconvenient, if not prohibitive, to exporters and importers involved.

Publication date: 19 Jan 2006
Author: Andre van der Wiel
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