German apple grower organisations
Important step in the development of new markets
(f.l.t.r.) DRV-Generalsekretär Dr. Henning Ehlers, BVEO-Geschäftsführer Dr. Christian Weseloh, BMEL-Parlamentarische Staatssekretärin Dr. Maria Flachsbarth und JKI-Präsident Professor Dr. Georg F. Backhaus
The main target of the agreement is the set-up of reports on phytosanitary risk analysis, which are important for the export into third countries. This analysis is helping those target countries to estimate the possible introduction of harmful organisms. The contract was signed in the presence of the parliamentary secretary of the federal ministry for Food and Agriculture (BmEL) Dr. Maria Flachsbarth, the head of BmEL-Office of export coordination Dr. Gerhard Rech, the JKI-President Professor Dr. Georg F. Backhaus and the DRV-General Dr. Henning Ehlers and Dr. Christian Weseloh, both managing director of the confederation of producer organizations fruit and vegetables (BVEO).
The background to this agreement is the far-reaching consequences of the Russian import ban. Those consequences made a huge impact especially in the fruit and vegetable industry. For fruit and vegetable companies, the development of new markets abroad is very important and has the highest priority. Non-tariff barriers to trade, that include phytosanitary import requirements, are restricting the market entrance in many import countries. With the presentation of risk analysis the barriers are now especially reduced.
The Parliamentary State Secretary Dr. Flachsbarth underlined the export competence of BmEL. The involvement of German agriculture into the international commodity flow is supported through this agreement.
“We consider the creation of new jobs in the BmEL and in the Julius Kühn-Institut as a pioneering step. Through the coordinated organization and through solid scientific analysis we want to provide the phytosanitary regulations on important future markets”, Dr. Ehlers explained.
The German Raiffeisen Association (DRV) represents the interests of co-operative enterprises of the agricultural and food industry. As a vital link in the food value chain the DRV 2,316 member companies achieve a turnover of 66 billion Euro in agricultural trade and processing of agricultural products, with around 82,000 employees. Farmers, gardeners and winegrowers are members and therefore the owner of the cooperatives.
The Confederation of producer organizations fruit and vegetables e. V. (BVEO) is an association of 40 members (30 producer organizations and ten individual companies) of the German fruit and vegetable industry. The Association represents the interests of its members, organizes exhibition and convention appearances and controls PR and marketing activities.
Monika Windbergs M. A.
Deutscher Raiffeisenverband e.V.
Tel. +49 (0)30 856214-430
windbergs@drv.raiffeisen.de
www.raiffeisen.de