Archive for January, 2012

The Statutory Instrument: The Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 has been published and comes into force on 13 February 2012. For more information see: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/103/pdfs/uksi_20120103_en.pdf

EU Alert - Information

EU Alert - Border rejection

The Food Standards Agency has published its latest survey of public attitudes towards food and food safety (November 2011).  The main food issues were food prices (60%), the amount of salt in food (46%), food waste (43%), the amount of fat in food and the amount of saturated fat in food (both at 40%).

The main food safety issues of total concern for respondents were food hygiene when eating out (36%) and food poisoning such as Salmonella and E.coli (30%). Respondents were also concerned about the use of additives in food products (26%). There has been a general decrease in concern for food safety issues in particular, concern for food poisoning and food hygiene when eating out. Spontaneous concern about the use of pesticides to grow food decreased to 3% (from 4% in the previous survey in May 2011).

For more information visit:  http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2012/jan/tracker

The European Commission has published Implementing Regulation (EU) No 40/2012 on the issue of licences for the import of garlic in the sub-period from 1 March 2012 to 31 May 2012.

The Regulation states that applications for ‘A’ import licences lodged during the first seven days of January 2012 and sent to the Commission by 14 January 2012 shall be met at a percentage rate of the quantities applied for as set out in the Annex of the Regulation, covering imports from Argentina, China and other third countries.

A UK action plan to drive exports in the farming, food and drink sector has been published jointly by Defra, UK Trade and Investment and industry.

The Action Plan sets out how government and industry will work together to:

·       open markets and remove trade barriers;

·       build a business mindset of exporting as a key route to growth;

·       encourage more SMEs to explore overseas opportunities and support those who already export do more;

·       shift the focus of the sector towards the opportunities of emerging economies where there is the greatest future growth potential.

The Food and Farming Group plans to do this by lobbying for the removal of trade barriers that restrict access to new markets, ensuring that the right information and support is available to help businesses overseas, simplifying the food export paperwork for companies, and strategically championing the UK’s reputation for farming, food and drink.

For more information visit: http://www.defra.gov.uk/food-farm/food/exports/

FPC has been in contact with Defra to discuss opportunities for the fresh produce sector.The Defra team has already expressed interest in our visit with UK delegates to China which will take in June this year.

The Food Standards Agency has published its latest survey of public attitudes towards food and food safety (November 2011).  The main food issues were food prices (60%), the amount of salt in food (46%), food waste (43%), the amount of fat in food and the amount of saturated fat in food (both at 40%).

The main food safety issues of total concern for respondents were food hygiene when eating out (36%) and food poisoning such as Salmonella and E.coli (30%). Respondents were also concerned about the use of additives in food products (26%). There has been a general decrease in concern for food safety issues in particular, concern for food poisoning and food hygiene when eating out. Spontaneous concern about the use of pesticides to grow food decreased to 3% (from 4% in the previous survey in May 2011).

For more information visit:  http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2012/jan/tracker

We have received the following update regarding the Commission’s discussions on applications for extension of food additives/waxes.

In order to speed up those applications for which there’s a consensus already, the Commission proposes to move forward by grouping all applications (see overview) in three different proposals.

This strategy would also avoid that the European Parliament would reject the whole package. Three groups of applications are considered:

• Extensions of use for exotics: bananas, mango, papaya, pineapple, pomegranate, avocado (possible by using reference to MRL-legislation – large fruits with inedible peel)

All of these extensions are generally recognised as needed by Member States; as such the proposal could be adopted in a forthcoming standing committee in April.

• Extensions of use for fruits with edible peel: this proposal would cover the use extensions and new applications for pomefruit and stonefruit.

While there’s general comprehension for the technical need, several Member States have raised the fact that consumers do not know whether there fruit has been treated, where they would eat the peel. For these new entries and existing entries of fruit with edible peel, the Commission is proposing it would make the use conditional to the labelling of the treatment (i.e. ‘treated with wax’ or ‘treated with preservatives’ in the case of sorbates).

• Extensions of use for vegetables: a separate proposal would be made for cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes with similar labelling provisions as fruits with edible peel.

Freshfel is supporting this strategy as there’s an urgent need for legal certainty on exotic fruits. The strategy will be discussed with Member States during a working group on 20 February. It remains to be seen whether the two other proposals will obtain a majority in short term.

We have been asked to provide any feedback on the proposals regarding the use of waxes on pomefruit and stonefruit on imported or EU produce in order to understand the broader implications of the labelling provision.

We have been advised that the Commission’s working group has decided not to consider the inclusion of additional controls on beans and peas from Kenya, or herbs from Vietnam in the current review of Annex I of EU Regulation 669/2009.

With regard to Kenyan beans and peas the Commission commented: ‘We concluded that at this stage there is no sufficient ground to list this item. However, it should be followed up’.

There is now a proposal to consider increasing the frequency of checks for fresh curry leaves from India, from the current 10% control rate to a potential 50%, based on member states’ reports of non-compliance rates and a recent FVO mission.

Anglia Business Solutions sadly announces that David Hurley passed away at the weekend following a short illness, aged 64.

David was a founding member of the company in 1981, and had led the company for the last 15 years. David was a highly respected member of the business community. David’s vision was behind the development of the company’s LINKFresh solution and, as such, he had become a well-known figure within the UK fresh food industry.

Speaking on behalf of the Board, Robert Frost said, “This has come as a great shock to all of us and he will be sorely missed.  We are committed to continuing the strategy which the company is following to deliver LINKFresh to the fresh food market. The thoughts and condolences of all of David’s friends and colleagues at Anglia Business Solutions are with his family at this difficult time.”

Nigel Jenney said: “David’s commitment to the FPC was self evident and his support of our annual dinner as its primary sponsor for five consecutive years was unparalleled. He was our friend, and a true inspiration to the industry and his recent, untimely demise has left an enormous void in our sector and in the lives of all who knew him.  He built a highly successful business over a period of years and his passion and integrity were an example to us all. The success of Linkfresh in particular is a tribute to his expertise, immense knowledge and foresight, providing expert technology to our industry.  We will miss him and we offer our deepest sympathies to his family and the Anglia team.”