MARKET ACCESS Freshfel Europe works intensively with the European Commission on the difficulties experienced by European fruits and vegetables exporters when exporting to overseas markets. DG Trade regularly relies upon information provided by Freshfel in its preparation of the monthly meetings of the WTO’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Committee in Geneva, as well as bilateral meetings with third countries, for example in the framework of an Association Agreement. As such, the Freshfel Secretariat has, in collaboration with members, informed the Commission on market access difficulties experienced by European exporters of fruits and vegetables in the US, Taiwan, Japan, Egypt, China, Chile, India, … . In January 2005, Freshfel assisted DG Sanco in preparing the annual meeting of the EU - Mexican SPS Committee. Freshfel’s demands, including our requests to regard the EU as a single phytosanitary entity, to extend bilateral import protocols concluded with one EU Member State to all other Member States, and to accept the concept of ‘pest free’ zones, were tabled in their entirety by the Commission negotiators in their contacts with the Mexican authorities. Discussions on these issues will carry on during future meetings between European and Mexican officials. Freshfel further collaborates with the Dispute Settlement and Trade Barriers Unit of DG Trade on the EU’s complaint on Australia’s quarantine regime for agricultural imports with the WTO. Further to the pressure exerted by the EU, Australia agreed to simplify and increase the transparency of its import authorisation procedures. In March 2005, Freshfel informed its members that the Australian authorities were extending their existing policy for the import of oranges from Egypt, Israel and Spain to imports of oranges from Italy, in line with Freshfel’s recurrent request for the extension of SPS requirements across various exporting countries. In May 2005, Freshfel assisted the European Commission in evaluating the potential economic significance of the opening up of the Japanese market to imports of Belgian tomatoes. In its report, Freshfel stressed that in spite of the limited volume that will be exported to Japan in 2005, it is crucial to keep the door to the Japanese market open in view of the potential future development of shipments. PROMOTION The Freshfel Working Group on Promotion, chaired by Laurence Swan (Fyffes, IE), was created in 2003. The main objective of the group is to look at ways of increasing the consumption of fruit and vegetables, with a view to reversing the stagnating, and in some cases decreasing, consumption trend experienced throughout Europe. Through its actions, the group would like to contribute to the fight against obesity, heart diseases and cancer, which threaten our modern society. The group gathers several Freshfel members, as well as a number of non-Freshfel members, active in the promotion of fruit and vegetables at national level. These include Spain’s ‘5 al Día’, France’s Interfel and The Netherland’s ‘AGF Promotie Nederland’. In the summer of 2005, Freshfel was accepted as a full member of the EU Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, launched by Commissioner Kyprianou in March. Following Freshfel’s application, our association officially represents the fruit and vegetables sector within the platform, along with other members from various other sectors such as the food industry, retailers, advertisers, health associations and consumers. In a meeting with Robert Madelin, Director General at DG Sanco of the European Commission, held in July 2005 with Freshfel Board, Mr Madelin welcomed Freshfel’s involvement in the European Platform and invited the Association to present a “business plan” on the possible promotional actions which could be agreed upon, in the framework of the EU Platform. Freshfel presented this "business plan" to the Commission in December 2005. Further, the Platform has a database that compiles and presents actions undertaken during 2004/5 and commitments for 2006. Freshfel, as Secretariat, has presented three commitements: 1) the creation of a pan-European promotional logo for increasing consumption; 2) the drafting and distribution of a bi-monthly newsletter on promotional activities around the world, "Fresh Times"; 3) the continuation on 2006 of Freshfel "Consumption Monitor of fruits and vegetables". THE FRESHFEL 'FRESH QUALITY GUIDE' The Fresh Quality Guide, available free to all online at www.freshquality.org, has proved to be an invaluable tool to the fresh produce industry. Developed in association with the Angel Rey Foundation in Spain, the Fresh Quality Guide provides interpretative guides to EU food safety and quality legislation, together with links to original legislative documents for easy and quick reference. The Fresh Quality Guide has been of significant use to traders in the new Member States, by outlining and clarifying EU market requirements. Throughout the past years the Fresh Quality Guide has continually undergone numerous changes to take account of the evolution of European and international legislation. The success and benefit of the Fresh Quality Guide to the industry has attracted many plaudits within the industry. Consequently, we now have three partners sponsoring the site. Their kind support has been welcomed by Freshfel, and will allow the continued development of the site. More sponsorship opportunities are available and interested parties should contact the Freshfel secretariat. Freshfel will continue monitoring any legislative developments in the field of food quality and safety in order to swiftly update the Fresh Quality Guide and ensure readers remain compliant with European legislation.