Norbert Röhl, Edeka:
"The time is ripe for European standardization in fruit and vegetables"
Harrij Schmeitz of FrugI Com and Norbert Röhl of Edeka during the press conference
Although the fruit and vegetable sector is an international one, there is still an astonishing lack of common understanding about the nature and implementation of GS1 standards between different companies and different countries. The consequence being that these standards are not upheld to the same extent in different places. According to Röhl now is the time to do something. The resources are there. Now it’s time to streamline and update the application.
"A more common understanding avoids unnecessary costs in the supply chain," says Röhl, on behalf of an Edeka project for the implementation of GS1 standards in the European fruit and vegetable market. Besides the German supermarket, other German retailers such as Metro and Rewe are also involved. On the supply side Dutch multinationals like the Greenery and Frankort & Koning are on board as well.
One of the nagging questions is how Europe got to be in the position it is. While the US seem to have their affairs pretty much in order, Europe is struggling. Why? "That has to do with the European legislation, which does not reflect the way fruit and vegetables are classified in North America," responds Röhl. "Take apples. In Europe we divide them in three classes, each apple receiving a custom code by class, variety and size. In North America, they work with an entirely different system." According to Röhl the European dissimilarities are mainly due to countries’ varying customs and requirements and the size of the companies.
“What we need are easy-to-understand manuals, not too technical and written in a country’s own language. That is a good first step for international use and understanding of GS1 standards. The current GTIN-manual is a good example. It is a German-Dutch co-production in which we define 10 criteria that a GTIN must meet. Then we assemble that information in a table in which for each product type is specified when a new GTIN must be assigned."
Will harmonizing GS1 standards and increasing understanding make this chain safer as well? Can it contribute to preventing a crisis like the one in the 2011 EHEC infection? "Frankly, no," says Röhl. "A EHEC contamination is impervious to borders, laws and standards. Yet common standards used across the industry provide fast and accurate traceability throughout the supply chain. This saves money and has a positive impact on the reputation of the international fruit and vegetable sector.”
Source: GS1
