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Italy, France and Spain analyze impact of imports on tomato sector
VU
Key meeting on the tomato sector was held in Sicily (Italy).
Yesterday, in Sicily (Italy), a key meeting on the tomato sector was held with the participation of delegations from Italy, France and Spain. The meeting, held at the headquarters of the Consorzio di Tudela Pomodoro di Pachino PGI, focused on key issues: the development of the current season, forecasts for the summer, the impact of foreign competition in the EU, phytosanitary regulations and the need to update labeling standards.
Production and price developments
Overall, production declined in Italy and Spain, while in France it remained stable. In Italy, lower supply boosted prices, especially at the beginning of the season. In Spain, despite the drop in production, prices fell by 5% on average.
Impact of labor costs
One of the key points was the impact of labor on production costs. In Spain, the minimum wage has risen significantly over the last four years, while France remains the country with the highest labor costs.
Forecasts for the summer season
Forecasts for the summer season are mixed: France expects stability, Italy foresees a drop in production and Spain anticipates an increase, as some growers of other crops have opted for tomatoes.
Foreign competition in the EU
Competition in the EU was analyzed, highlighting Morocco as the main exporter in 2024, with 579,792 tons, followed by Turkey with 194,213 tons. Two EU Court of Justice rulings on the origin of products from Western Sahara and their impact on tariff preferences and labeling were also discussed.
Phytosanitary and labeling
Regarding phytosanitary products, it was requested that imported products comply with the same regulations as European products. It was agreed to send a letter to the European Commission to harmonize the registration of these products according to the climatic zones established in regulation 1107/2009.
Regarding labeling, it was proposed to increase the size of the country of origin on the packages and to allow a logo that highlights the Community preference.
source: fepex.es
photo: italia.it
