At the last meeting of the National Association of Garlic Producers and Traders, held in Las Pedroñeras (in the Spanish province of Cuenca) on 29 July 2016 the current situation of the garlic sector was analysed.
Within the framework of the European Union, with the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2016/1237 next 6 November 2016, which will extend the mandatory issuance of a certificate for the import of garlic until 30 September 2017, the ANPCA has agreed to ask the Commission once again for access to the data collected by the new computer system for import control, which aims to replace the current system of import licenses. In the ANPCA's consideration, this access is essential to check its proper functioning and effectiveness because, otherwise, the sector would not allow the replacement of the current system, which has proven effective in the fight against fraud in many cases.
Also within this European framework, the ANPCA has asked the European Commission to review the current "import quota" set for Chinese garlic after the proposed abandonment of the European Union by the United Kingdom. In this context, the "import quota" must be readjusted, as was already done after the admission of other countries into the European Union, especially considering the UK's share in the European Union's total garlic consumption. Consequently, the ANPCA has asked the Directorate General for Agriculture of the European Commission, through its delegation in Brussels, EUCOFEL, to carry out the necessary impact studies to find out the impact of Brexit on the Chinese garlic import quota.
At domestic level, the ANPCA has estimated the current harvest as very satisfactory in terms of quantity and quality, and expects this year's marketing campaign to be profitable for Spanish garlic growers. After the end of the white garlic harvest in the areas further north of Spain, it will be possible to offer a more accurate picture in this regard.
The National Association of Garlic Producers and Traders represents more than 1,800 producers and the 47 largest companies devoted to garlic marketing in Spain, which together account for 70% of the total marketed production.
For more information:
Luis Fernando Rubio
ANPCA
Tel.: +34 638103910