The European tomato marked by the price crisis

Cooperatives Agro-alimentary of Spain and member organizations of the Joint Committee take stock of the terrible campaign tomato and seek support from the EU. From September 2015 to February 2016 there has been a drop in revenue in the sector of 11% and a price decrease of 17%.

At the Rome meeting, industry representatives, members of the Contact Group of tomato Hispano-Italo-French Joint Committee took stock of the 2015-2016 campaign marked by deep price crisis, which has only been traced at times. As noted Agro-Food Cooperatives of Spain from September 2015 to February 2016 there has been a drop in revenue in the sector of 11% and a price decrease of 17%.

This situation is the result of several downturns. Among them, the high temperatures, which have advanced and intensified production cycles, there has been more and less staggered in Spain and Italy and has expanded the calendar in Central Europe, which has increased its self-sufficiency and cared less. In the case of tomatoes, have also attended two other factors: the intensification of EU imports from Morocco and Veto Russian to products from the European Union and Turkey, which has denied the main non-EU market for European exporters, the once indirectly-it caused saturation of the internal market, with the arrival of the entire product redirected to the EU from third countries.

Producers, cooperatives and exporters pointed out that the loss of income from this campaign accrues to the already suffered in previous campaigns, putting in serious difficulties for the sector. They also regretted that continue to worsen a problem that further reduces their competitiveness, growing difficulties in obtaining plant protection products. In this regard they have indicated that member states are not effectively using the tools of “mutual recognition” or “extension of authorization for minor crops”.

In this situation, participants reiterated the measures already put to the Commission earlier this year, which include increasing the amounts of Community withdrawal compensation for this instrument prevention and crisis management to be really effective; the application of the safeguard clause, once it has been verified destabilization of the Community market by imports from Morocco; and changing the method of calculating the value of imports under the EU-Morocco Agreement, establishing two standard import values ​​that differentiate round tomato and cherry tomatoes, to effectively protect EU imports from that country jumbled.

As for the extension of the exceptional withdrawals enacted as a result of Russian Veto, announced at the Agriculture Council of March 15, they assessed this decision, but noted the need for improvements in this mechanism (in addition to extending it) to really prove cash.

Finally, they sued the Community institutions to redouble their efforts to normalize trade relations with Russia, a strategic market and currently not replaceable, and bring media to rebalance bargaining power between operators on the market.

Source: Cooperative Agro-food