Spain wants improvements in CMO reform proposal
consumers may lose taste for citrus

Tholen - During the first debate of European ministers about the proposed reforms of the Common Market Organisation (CMO), the Spanish minister Elena Espinosa defended a critical revision of the proposal on several issues, amongst which the changes for the citrus sector. This sector represents a significant interest for several member states and is also one of the sectors which is mostly affected by the proposed reforms, as the Commission intends to switch the grounds for payment of subsidies from direct support to supplies of the processing industry to a subsidy that is given based on the number of hectares of growing acreage.

This change could have the consequence that the processing industry might fall short of supplies, according to Espinosa. Another consequence could be that all kinds of fruit of quality and calibres that normally would not meet the standards of the fresh market, might now be offered as fresh product to consumers. At such a general loss of quality, it is expected that consumers might lose their taste for citrus.

Publication date: January 30 2007
Author: André van der Wiel
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