The tomato contact group Spanish and French, consisting of producers from France and Spain, and government representatives from both countries will meet on Thursday, February 11th in Paris, to discuss the development of this campaign, and the status of EU trade negotiations with third countries, among the main issues. It will also explore the entry price system and the new regulations of the Commission on implementation of the CMO.
French representation will be gathering around the Tomato Producers Association in France, AOPN and will be chaired by the president and AOPN tomato producer, Pierre Diot.
FEPEX representation will be led by Committee Chairman and representative FEPEX Tomato Proexport (Murcia), José Hernández and shall consist of officials from the associations located in major production areas: Andalusia (Coexphal), Murcia (Proexport) Canary (Fedex and Aceto) and Valencia (Fexphal), as well as FEPEX director Jose Maria Pozancos.
Both FEPEX and theTomato Producers Association in France, AOPN have already been communicate with the Commission, they said that the EU market can not stand new concessions in tomato trade agreements with third countries, because existing ones are causing repeated market crisis, causing loss to the Community producers.
With regard with the input prices, both organizations have also been spoken to the Commission for reform of Regulation (EC) No. 1580/2007, which regulates the entry price system as it is the only instrument that can ensure that imported products comply with minimum prices.
The Spanish and French tomato contact group is one of the working groups have been formed under the Spanish - rench Joint Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables, created in 1997 by agreement between the French and Spanish governments. Along with tomato contact group also met regularly contact groups strawberry, garlic and stone fruit.
www.fepex.es - 09 February 2010 |