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Conference Conclusions:

Speciality Crops and “Minor Uses” Conference 4 November 2009

A Conference on speciality crops and minor uses was held on 4th November 2009 on initiative of eight food chain organisations, including ESA, COPA and ECPA. It looked at the impact and challenges resulting from Regulation 1107/2009 on the authorisation of plant protection products for speciality crops and minor uses.

In practice, “minor use” applies in particular to fruits and vegetables, storage, transport and trade of cereals, seeds and flowers. Speciality crops, which include most vegetables, fruits, nurseries and flowers, accounts for an EU production value of greater than €60 billion per year, representing more than 20% of the value of EUs total agricultural production. The conference was attended by more than 100 participants from the food value chain and including national and European authorities. The conclusions hereinafter represent the views of the participants at the Conference including the eight co-organising food chain organisations.

Key conclusions of the Speciality crops and Minor uses Conference 4 November 2009

•    PROTECTION OF SPECIALTY CROPS AND USES: Minor use authorizations ensure the protection of high value specialty crops and uses that contribute to the availability of high-quality healthy and affordable food for all consumers and upholding of the biodiversity.

•    GREATER COORDINATION: There is a need to have specific EU workgroups and coordination units to look at minor use issues and find common crop protection solutions for specialty crops. The Commission’s commitment given at the Conference to re-instate these groups as soon as possible was supported by all participants.

•    A STEP TOWARDS IMPROVED COOPERATION: The workshop was a first step and broader cooperation between all the players in the public and private sector is required, including wider cooperation with third countries. Such cooperation needs to have a holistic approach that will also consider the implications of the implementation of the Sustainable Use Directive6.

•    MINOR USE FUND: The IR-4 programme from the United States is an excellent model that provides solutions and has shown a high return on the investment made. A similar approach could be beneficial in Europe.

To read the full final conclusions from the workshop, please click here esa_10.0085.

ESA, together with the other organisations, will continue to work on practical proposals together with the European Commission in order to put the conclusions and recommendations from the conference into practical policy.