Table grape contact group rejects proposed regulations on sustainable use of phytosanitary products and packaging

During a recent meeting of the table grape contact group, composed of producers and marketers from Italy, France, and Spain, the proposed regulations by the European Commission on the sustainable use of phytosanitary products, packaging, and packaging waste were rejected. 

The producers argued that these regulations would have negative consequences for European production without proper impact studies. In the same way, they rejected the proposed Regulation on the sustainable use of phytosanitary products due to the drastic reduction of basic tools for dealing with pests and plant diseases. 

The proposal for a Regulation on packaging and packaging waste was not accepted either, as it would prevent the differentiation of community production by requiring the marketing of fruit and vegetables in packages of less than 1.5 kilos to be done in bulk. 

As was announced by the contact group, in the 2023 campaign, a similar cultivated area for grapes will remain in Spain compared to that of 2022, while Italy is expected to have a decrease of 8%.

source: fepex.es