Regulation No. 499/2014 was published with no changes on Friday, May 16, in the Official Journal of the European Union.Regarding producer organizations, the document highlights the changes of democratic control, which states that, "Member States shall determine the maximum percentage of voting rights and shares that a producer organization or a natural or legal person can have. This maximum percentage shall be less than 50% for both the voting rights and for the shares. In duly justified cases, a legal entity within an organization may have more shares than the higher maximum, provided that there are mechanisms to avoid this person from abusing his power."
The new regulation also has changes regarding outsourcing. According to this new regulation, Member States may authorize outsourcing actions such as collection, storage, packaging and marketing of the products of the members of the producers' organization. To do so, the producers' organizations that want to outsource an activity will have to hold a trade agreement via a written contract, with a minimum depth content, with another entity, or one or more members, or a subsidiary, which would allow the organization to exercise real control over the outsourced activity.
Both measures, democratic control of organizations and outsourcing, will come into force starting January 1, 2015.
The new regulation includes the reform of the system of entry prices, which will take effect on October 1 and that established, as a major change, that the customs value of the imported products under the trade regime for sales on consignment shall be determined directly by the Commission's daily import value; applying the provisions of the Customs Code for the clearance of goods for fruit and vegetables.
The Delegated Regulation on fruit and vegetables is part of the CAP reform and incorporates amendments to various regulations. It partially adapts the new regulations of the Single CMO Regulation 1308/2013, incorporates provisions of Regulation 1234/2007 and amends Regulation 543/2011, which regulates fruits and vegetables.
The European Commission presented the Regulation on March 11, adopted by the Committee on Agriculture of the European Parliament on April 7, by the Council of Ministers on Monday April 14, and by the European Parliament plenary session in the third week of April.
For FEPEX, the development that the Ministry of Agriculture makes of this new regulation is of strategic importance to promote and strengthen the economic organization of the Spanish horticultural sector.
The agreement for the marketing of bananas between the U.S. and Ecuador was signed
The Brotherhood Agreement between Puerto Bolivar and California's Port Hueneme was signed on May 16, with the presence of both ports authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Trade. The agreement will allow both parties to share policies in the development of facilities, staff training, logistics, promotion of the banana industry, environmental protection and scheduled visits to enhance their competitiveness.
Maria Antonieta Reyes, Secretary of Foreign Trade Policy, expressed her enthusiasm for the benefits that this agreement will bring to optimize time, logistics and handling of the product, to ensure it reaches its destination in excellent condition. She stated that this would increase the international competitiveness of Ecuadorian bananas, which would lead to the development of the province of El Oro. "We started with bananas, so why shouldn't we continue with another fruit?" stressed the official.
Kristin Decas, executive director of the Port of Hueneme, said the sea and land connections allow Ecuadorian bananas to be sent everywhere. He noted that the Port of Hueneme is not congested, which gives it a competitive advantage.
Similarly, Wilmer Encalada, general manager of the Port Authority of Puerto Bolívar, coincided with the aim of expanding and diversifying trade: "The strength of this port are the bananas, but if we have the opportunity to have new agreements that will contribute to the development of our country; so be it," he exclaimed.
United States imports an annual average of 30 million boxes of bananas, with an estimated market value of $885 million dollars, through the Port of Hueneme. This agreement, managed by the PRO ECUADOR's Commercial Office in Los Angeles, provides a more direct approach that will provide exporters of Ecuadorian bananas better facilities.
