European producers and professionals of the garlic industry, who will meet on 21 November in Cordoba, Spain, are demanding measures from the EU to defend European interests "against unfair competition from the Chinese market."
At a press conference in Cordoba, the president of the Association of Garlic Producers and Marketers of Andalusia (APROCOA), Miguel del Pino, highlighted that the sector's main problem is the "strong competition from China" which "introduces the product cheaply in Spain because of their lower production costs."
The forum that will meet in Cordoba will be attended by representatives of the three European garlic-producing countries: Spain, Italy and France, who have already made proposals approved by Brussels, such as fixing an entry quota for Chinese and Argentinian garlic imported to Europe.
Proposals have also been made to the EU to fight "against illegal garlic imports" and for the introduction of a quality seal for European garlic.
For his part, the Agriculture and Environment delegate of Cordoba's provincial government, Julio Criado, explained that the institution supports these kind of forums as a part of a strategy of "promotion and expansion of agricultural products," as Cordoba is the number one province in terms of garlic production.
Criado mentioned that production concentrates in the areas of Campiña, Montalbán, Santaella, San Sebastián de los Ballesteros and Aguilar, with a high demand for labour (280,000 annual salaries).
The province of Cordoba presents itself as the main Andalusian producer, accumulating 55% of the area cultivated in Andalusia and about 60% of the entire production.
Source: Finanzas.com