FEPEX calls for effective measures for imports from Morocco.

It will propose that the Commission establish a specific withdrawal price for cherry tomatoes.

The unification of all tomato types into a single value prevents a real analysis of the market situation., and the effects that imports are having for the European producing and marketing sector.

The Tomato Forecast Working Group of the European Commission, composed of experts from the Member States and officials from the European Commission, will analyze this Thursday the situation of the tomato markets and the entry prices applicable to imports from Morocco, among the main items on the agenda.

In relation to the entry price of tomatoes from Morocco, FEPEX will convey that the comparative analysis of the import values ​​of the last campaign and the current campaign does not reflect the situation of the markets at all..

FEPEX considers that the inclusion in a single import value of all types of tomatoes, including cherry variety, prevents rigorous monitoring of the market situation and the application of the safeguard measures provided for in the Association Agreement.

On the other hand, FEPEX will propose that the Commission establish a specific withdrawal price for cherry tomatoes, which currently has community aid of 18,30 euros per hundred kilos, amount that is co-financed in a 50% by producer organizations.

FEPEX considers that this amount is manifestly insufficient to manage market crises in this market segment., which suffers strong competition from imports from Morocco.

As a consequence, in 2014, The starting price of tomatoes from Spanish producer organizations fell by 14,5% compared to the previous year.

Another item on the agenda adopted by the European Commission will be unfair commercial practices in the food chain..

The EUCOFEL-FEPEX experts of the Tomates group are José Hernández, president of the FEPEX Tomato Committee and the Paloma Horticultural Group, and José María Pozancos, director of FEPEX.