• Legislation
• Media Centre
• Publications
• What's New

		Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Te Manatu Ahuwhenua, Ngaherehere

Issue 8 January 2002

From the Editor I am pleased as Editor to present my first issue of RM Update on environmental quality assurance. Since the early 1990s industry commentators have stated that environmental quality assurance will become increasing important in New Zealand as overseas markets demand proof that produce is from clean green production systems. This issue attempts to outline several environmental quality assurance schemes operating or being proposed for agriculture and forestry in New Zealand. It outlines details of EUREP GAP which is likely to have important consequences for New Zealand and discusses MAF’s activities in the area of environmental quality assurance. I hope you enjoy this issue. Duane Redward, Editor

 

In this Issue:

Sustainable Farming Fund Projects Sustainable Supply Capability for the Meat Industry The Dairy Farmer-friendly Environmental QA System Forestry Operator Accreditation System Potential for Approved Forestry Operators National Forest Standards and Certification The New Zealand/Australia EMS Group QA/EMS Working Group

PDF Version

EUREP GAP – What does it mean for New Zealand Agriculture?

EUREP1 GAP is being discussed as one of the next big hurdles that New Zealand agriculture has to overcome. The following article by Sandy Scarrow provides some background to EUREP GAP and then discusses how various agricultural industries in New Zealand are responding to the challenge.

What is EUREP GAP?

EUREP GAP is a system designed “to achieve integrity and transparency in the verification process” for primary product sold in the European Union.2 EUREP is the organisation (Euro-Retailers Produce Working Group) and GAP (Good Agricultural Practice) is the system.

The EUREP working group is made up of retailers and suppliers of primary produce to the European Union and associated service providers. Figure 1 provides an indication of the retailers involved in the programme. It is clear from this diagram that EUREP includes many of the leading retailers in Europe.

The supplier members include many of the leading primary produce marketers from throughout the world, including ENZA. Associate members of EUREP include agrichemical companies and verification authorities among others.

Figure 1 Retailer Members of EUREP 

At this stage, a EUREP GAP protocol has been developed for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, Livestock (focusing on pig production) and Combinable Crops (e.g. grains). The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable protocol is the one that is most advanced.

The EUREP GAP system is being used as a business to business (B2B) tool. That is, it is not intended to become a consumer brand. Retailers want to ensure the prominence of their own retail brands. Tesco’s, for example, still intend to retain their “Nature’s Choice” brand.3 Retailers are strongly encouraging their suppliers to become EUREP GAP certified. Sainsbury’s UK, for example, wants all overseas suppliers to be independently verified to the relevant EUREP GAP standard by 2003.4

In the introduction to the Fresh Fruit and Produce Protocol, are the following key points that describe the scope of EUREP GAP:

• The document defines minimum standards that may be exceeded by some retailers and growers.
  EUREP recognises the significant progress made already in developing and implementing best-practice agricultural systems.
• The adoption of Integrated Pest Management is seen as essential.
• EUREP supports the principles of HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points).
• All organisations involved in the food production chain must accept their share of the tasks and responsibilities to ensure that GAP is fully implemented and supported.
• All growers must demonstrate their compliance with national and international law.
• All growers should be able to demonstrate their commitment to:
  • maintaining consumer confidence in food quality and safety;
  • minimising the detrimental impact on the environment, whilst conserving nature and wildlife;
  • reducing the use of agrichemicals;
  • improving the efficiency of natural resource use; and
  • ensuring a responsible attitude towards worker health and safety.
• The EUREP GAP protocol is the normative document (that is, establishes the norm) for certification.
• Growers receive their EUREP GAP approval through independent verification from a verification body approved by EUREP.

Options for Certification

There are three options for New Zealand producers for EUREP GAP certification:

• • individual farmers or growers can become certified to EUREP GAP;
• • a Produce Marketing Organisation (PMO) can become certified to EUREP GAP; or
• • organisations using an existing scheme can apply for equivalency of their existing scheme to EUREP GAP.

The decisions made will depend on many issues including the level of organisation and competition within various industries.

How is New Zealand Agriculture Responding?

The response to EUREP GAP for many exporters of New Zealand primary products into the European Union appears to be quite measured. Many leading exporters (e.g. New Zealand Dairy Industry, ZESPRI International Ltd and ENZA) have existing systems in place. The natural response of these organisations is to apply for equivalency of their existing systems. These systems are continually being reviewed to ensure that they comply with international requirements, including EUREP GAP.

ZESPRI and ENZA are working to influence the final documents that come out of EUREP with ZESPRI making submissions on the documents and ENZA being a supplier member of EUREP. A key concern for both of these organisations is ensuring that the documents are relevant to New Zealand growers and service providers.

Smaller exporters continue to focus on individual customer programmes while EUREP GAP is being finalised. In circumstances where the exporter is also the grower (eg onion and potato exporters) there is the opportunity to move quickly to change systems should the need arise.

Other organisations with existing standards (eg BioGro5 and NZ Fresh Produce Approved Supplier Programme6) see the logic in gaining equivalency to EUREP GAP to reduce the need for multiple layers of systems and systems audits.

Certenz, an independent certification body, operating as an independent business unit within AgriQuality, has applied for and been approved as a Certification Body for EUREP GAP.

Sandy Scarrow MAF Policy Agent, Tauranga Sandy began work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries as a Horticultural Consultant in 1987 in the Whakatane office. She has moved through the many restructurings within MAF into Agriculture New Zealand as a Horticultural Consultant in Tauranga. She is contracted to MAF Policy as a Policy Agent. One of the most significant projects Sandy has been involved with over the last few years is the development and implementation of an environmental management standard for the Kiwifruit industry seen as the natural progression of the Kiwifruit industry’s low spray KiwiGreen programme.

 

Contact for Enquiries

Amber Duncalfe
Editor - RM Update
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND

Tel: +64 4 894 0710
Fax: +64 4 894 0745
Contact this person