Developing countries complain at WTO about EurepGAP

Tholen - Developing countries have complained at the World Trade Organisaton (WTO) about the standards for supermarket suppliers, such as EurepGAP. Those standards, for example for pesticides, are not required by governments.

The complaining countries, Egypt, Argentina, Indonesia, South Africa, Belize, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Kenya and the Canarian island Saint Vincent, claim that the small growers in their countries are the victim of the standards. They also claim this is the government's responsibility.

Within the WTO, agreements have been made about the standards. Therefore, countries can’t abuse regulations to disturb the trade in other countries. The European Union's opinion is that the EurepGAP standards are the result of customer demands.

Source: Zibb.nl
Publication date: October 19 2006
Author: Lody van Berkel
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