France happy with European apple import license
Minister of agriculture to save fruit sector

Tholen - The French minister of Agriculture, Dominique Bussereau has announced a new strategy for the French fruit sector at the recent congress of the national federation of fruit producers FNPF. According to Bussereau 2005 will be remembered as a year full of difficulties for the French fruit growers. The announced measures for October and December will offer € 25 mln. of help to the sector, but this was proven not to be enough.

The French fruit sector annually produces 3,5 mln. MT of fruit, with a value of € 3 bln., creating a turnover of annually € 11 mln. and currently finds itself in a crisis. This is mainly caused other countries that are exporting against low prices, such as Poland, China, Chile and South Africa, which have caused France to lose many markets abroad, especially in Germany and Denmark.

That’s why the French fruit sector has opted for a new European system of import licences for apples, on which the European Commission has made a positive decision. France was successful with its lobby and import levels of apples from outside the EU can now be limited and the consumption of French fruit will be stimulated.

Interfel, the French branch organisation for fresh produce will launch a huge publicity campaign to call upon all French people to eat 5 to 10 pieces of fruit per day. The minister also wants to stimulate the distribution of fruit on all primary schools, high schools, colleges and universities.

Publication date: 30 Jan 2006
Author: Andre van der Wiel
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