Proceedings 31st Meeting 13. - 15.03.2017, Bonn, Germany © BLE Imprint Federal Office for Agriculture and Food Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE) President: Dr. Hanns-Christoph Eiden Deichmanns Aue 29 53179 Bonn, Germany Telephone: ++49 (0)228 6845 - 0 Fax: ++49 (0)30 1810 6845 - 3444 E-mail: [email protected] Editing Dr. Ulrike Bickelmann, BLE Telephone: ++49 (0)228 6845 - 3357 E-mail: [email protected] Date of issue ‚June 2019 © BLE IAT 2017 Content Opening Hanns-Christoph Eiden, Federal Office for Agriculture and Food, Bonn (DE) 1 Variety testing for the apple production in Northern Germany Karsten Klopp, ESTEBURG – Fruit-Growing Centre Jork (DE) 5 Variety Protection – Trade mark Protection – Club varieties Erik Schulte, Federal Plant Variety Office, Hannover (DE) 9 It’s the mix that makes the difference – The combination of variety protection and trademark protection in the „green range“ Thomas Leidereiter, LL.M. (Cardiff), Green Rights, Hamburg (DE) 13 Apples – Production of Club Quality Tony Fissette, Enzafruit New Zealand (Continent) NV, Sint Truiden (BE) 17 Quality in Organic Production Dierk Augustin, Fruit Farm Augustin, Jork (DE) 19 EU Specific Marketing Standard for Apples Reimer Esselborn, Federal Office for Agriculture and Food, Bonn (DE) 23 Questions and answers to application of standards and inspection Heinrich Stevens, Federal Office for Agriculture and Food, Bonn (DE) 29 Labelling of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Ulrike Bickelmann, Federal Office for Agriculture and Food, Bonn (DE) 37 Onions – Quality production in (and for) Germany Peter Grauert, concepa, Edemissen (DE) 47 UNECE Standard for Onions Christiane Poser, Federal Office for Agriculture and Food, Bonn (DE) 51 Production and Harvest of Leeks Gregor Sanders, Chamber for Agriculture North Rhine-Westphalia, Straelen (DE) 59 UNECE Standard for Leeks Reinhild Fänger, Federal Office for Agriculture and Food, Bonn (DE) 63 Spanish garlic production Oscar Requeña, Alliumprodiber, Quesa (ES) 67 Garlic – Quality Production in China Cao Menghui, Xuzhou Liming Food Co. Ltd, Xuzhou (CN) 73 UNECE Standard for Garlic Michael Wahl, Federal Office for Agriculture and Food, Bonn (DE) 81 National Traceability System in Kenya Debora Shituvi, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service, Nairobi (KE) 85 Labelling the country of origin – are checks possible? Heinrich Bolten, State Office for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection of North Rhine-Westphalia, Recklinghausen (DE) 87 © BLE 1 Opening Hanns-Christoph Eiden, Federal Office for Agriculture and Food, Bonn (DE) Ladies and Gentlemen, I am very pleased to welcome you at the 31st You will hear presentations specifically to the International Meeting Quality Control of Fruit meaning and function of variety protection and Vegetables. I do this not only on behalf and to the labelling of trade marks. This of the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food information shall provide you with more but also on behalf of the Working Group of security in the assessment of labelling of the Official Quality Control for Fresh Fruit and varieties and trade marks. Vegetables, cooperating with us as perfect as usual when hosting this event. The organizers did care about on how to address the item of avoiding loss and waste This year 200 participants did notify their in food. Fruit and vegetables are sensitive / participation. They come from 21 countries – perishable produce: As in all previous meetings the geographical range being from China to the production of a good quality was in our Israel and from Kenya to Brazil; in-between focus. This is accompanied by a harmonized being the 16 member countries of the European application of the quality provisions. When Union as well as Switzerland. production and quality assessment go hand in hand, consumers receive a good product that This extensive diversity is wonderful as it they will select with joy, eat with pleasure and enriches us so much! From each of these will in no case waste as it will not deteriorate countries we can hear and learn new quickly. information. We may take the opportunity to exchange our experience. I am probably The item on how to avoid losses presents itself not wrong, and you all can confirm this, how in a special way. It is a highly political question. eminent important this exchange of experience The sustainability goals of the United Nations is for inspectors. Only those who can talk obliging us to cut the losses of food by 50 % about their experience in inspection are able until the year 2030. to calibrate their personal standard. Only when we do this, we may satisfy producers and In these days, we want to approach the consumers. challenges linked herewith from the quality Thus, the professional exchange supports of products. Thus, the meeting follows the the stabilisation of the decisions and finally tradition of its predecessors. This year, the supports a coordinated inspection, comparable diversity of products to which we commit standards as well as a comparable and good ourselves in depth ranges from A for apple to inspection level. The industry is profiting from O for onions, in between being garlic and leeks. this as they are exactly interested in a standard The production conditions are manifold and being applied uniformly when products are can be influenced positively in many ways. inspected – at least within one marketing stage You’ll receive information on the sophisticated and that it is not inconsistent between the production of club varieties and on factors of marketing stages. a well reflected organic production. Another good argument for your journey to Bonn might When evaluating the inspection results, it is have been the interesting views that can be seen clearly visible – and surprisingly for me – that over the fence when production in Germany, incorrect or incomplete labelling is the most Spain, China and other countries are presented. frequent stated reason of non-conformity. This result is backed up by the observation of those Nowadays, fruit and vegetables are transported who carry out training sessions and answer the large distances between harvest and retail and questions addressed to BLE: they confirm that they pass through many hands. However, on question on labelling are on top of all other each marketing stage it must be possible to questions. trace back the produce. In fruit and vegetables This means, there is need for clarification and this should be easy as the sender or the packer discussion. These observations are reflected in as well as the country of origin must be the agenda of this meeting: labelled. You’ll discuss the challenges and the © BLE 2 Opening possibilities being linked to the checking and BLE thanks to your questions asked during the verification of the indication of the country last year. Both bodies have a direct link to daily of origin. In this context, labelling the region business practice and are interested in getting of origin and their verification will play a role the problems solved in a timely manner. – the regional origin of the products after all became an important selection criterion for Besides the international standardisation, I consumers. It’s a matter of expectations, it’s a would like to inform you on new developments matter of confidence in correct indications. It’s within the Federal Office for Agriculture and a must to meet the needs! Food. Since 1st February 2017 the BLE has incorporated two new federal centres in order „Labelling the country of origin“ and to strengthen the communication in nutrition „traceability“ must be regarded as the two and agriculture. sides of a medal. This will frankly be addressed and you’ll hear why – for example – Kenya • Federal Centre for Nutrition (BZfE) developed a national system to guarantee the traceability from the very beginning of the and marketing chain in a country where many small and large producers contribute to exports. • Federal Information Centre about Agriculture (BZL). This year’s program has cast the net very wide. The decision was taken intentional. As manifold The Federal Centre for Nutrition under the as the program may be, one essential question direction of Mrs. Dr. Margareta Büning-Fesel, is always of specific interest „what’s new in is now a division of BLE taking over the tasks Brussels?“ As you know, the EU marketing of capacity building in food as well as food standards have last been aligned to the communication. The aim is to make established respective UNECE standards in 2013. In these expertise on nutrition applicable in daily life days, the EU Commission is preparing the next and to cover concrete and practical challenges, alignment. We would have loved to inform you e. g. improvement of food in canteens, in about the latest state – however, the pivotal education on nutrition or the prevention of meeting takes place in Brussels tomorrow. food waste. The framework for marketing standards and The communication in agriculture is inspection are unchanged since 2009 and thus strengthened too. Federal Information Centre provide continuity and stability. Both factors about Agriculture will combine and expand are important for trade and inspection services. the activities of agricultural communication Recently, the EU Commission did inform that on the federal level and will directly address the basis of your and our work is going to be the consumers. The aim is, to support a better stable until end of 2018. Reflections on a reform understanding of agriculture and to contribute and potential simplification of the regulations to the social dialogue on agriculture and its role on marketing standards for agricultural in our community by providing independent produce have even though already started but and objective information. In close co- the process shall be stimulated by including the operation with the competent departments stakeholders along the marketing chain as well of BLE, we’ll strengthen the practical oriented as consumers.