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EU safety controls adjusted for imported plant origin products

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Certificates of exported plan origin products are checked systematically at EU borders, while physical checks are performed at a lower frequency. But, the frequency of these physical checks is increasing in order to determine the possible presence of substances that may pose a risk to human and animal health, such as aflatoxins in nuts and pesticides in fruit and vegetables.
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The European Market for Fair and Sustainable Flowers and Plants

ProVerde is pleased to announce a new publication for the Trade for Development Centre:
“The European Market for Fair and Sustainable Flowers and Plants”

Given the importance of market transparency for producers aiming at selling their products overseas, the report provides relevant information for producers – within the trade context. The report makes an attempt to capture all relevant information on the European market for fair and sustainable flowers and plants – ranging from economic structure of this market to production characteristics, and major trends in consumer preferences and behaviour.

Above all, the report provides insight into the role of various social and environmental standards in the main European flower and plant markets and sales channels.
Read More »The European Market for Fair and Sustainable Flowers and Plants

Ornamental Natural Products: Inquiry for assortment

Believe it or not, but it is estimated that European consumers spend a staggering 15 billion euro on cut flowers and flower arrangements per year. This market does not only consist of cut flowers, but includes a wide range of product groups like foliage, dried branches and even dried fruits and vegetables. Colourful dried corn stalks (maize), for instance, have been a big hit as a component in bouquets and flower arrangements.

It is a well-developed and highly competitive market which approaches saturation in some countries. As a result, traders are continuously seeking new, special and different products to distinguish themselves. Consumers want to be surprised: see something new and unexpected in the shops. It is obvious that this huge market offers varying opportunities for companies in developing countries as potential suppliers of natural products with ornamental features.

In view of this opportunity, ProVerde is looking for ways to match demand and potential suppliers. ProVerde is an internationally oriented company providing trade facilitation and trade mediation services to primarily companies in developing countries. We are based in The Netherlands, the centre of international floricultural trade, and specialised in marketing cut flowers & plants, florist items, and biodiversity products.Read More »Ornamental Natural Products: Inquiry for assortment

EU legislation: What exporters need to know about REACH

REACH is the chemical legislation of the EU that came into force on 1st June 2007 through Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006. REACH will establish a new single regime throughout the 27 EU Member States for existing and new substances and requires manufacturers in the EU and EU importers of substances/preparations to register them. The Regulation itself counts almost 900 pages besides the many other documents, guidance papers and opinions that can be found on Internet.Read More »EU legislation: What exporters need to know about REACH

European imports of fruit and vegetables vs self-sufficiency

As the climate in the EU is not suitable for the production of tropical fruit, the EU relies on imports of tropical fruits such as bananas –the most popular fruit in Europe–, pineapples, kiwifruit, avocados and mangos.

Temperate and sub-tropical species such as citrus fruit, grapes and pears are imported as well, but mainly in out of the European growing season. Countries in the southern hemisphere are able to supply when the countries in the northern hemisphere can not. This is also known as counter-season supply. For fruit products that can be stored, such as apples, the counter season is less evident. With the continual improvements in storage life and storage conditions of fruit products, the off-season is shortened.Read More »European imports of fruit and vegetables vs self-sufficiency

Phases in creating export clusters

As far as network creation/strengthening concerned, the following five inter-related phases can be envisaged:

1) Promotion and motivation phase
2) Strategic planning phase
3) Pilot project phase
4) Strategic projects phase
5) Self management phase

Network: The term ‘network’ refers to a group of firms that co-operate on a joint development project – complementing each other and specializing in order to overcome common problems, achieve collective efficiency and conquer markets beyond their individual reach, and

Cluster: The term ‘cluster’ indicates a sectoral and geographical concentration of enterprises which produce and sell a range of related or complementary products and are, thus, faced with common challenges and opportunities.
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Master Classes Flower Export 2009 in Ethiopia

Following the success of the previous training activities and upon request of the Ethiopian flower sector, CBI organised four Master Classes as a key activity of CBI’s 2009 floricultural training programme in Ethiopia. The programme was developed in close cooperation with EHPEA and focused on different aspects of flower export marketing.

In the course of the Master Class training series, participants wrote a concise export marketing plan. The structure of the export marketing plan was used as the framework for the special topics covered in the training programme: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), post-harvest and logistical requirements, market research in the flower business, getting the best price on the auction, and internal and external communication and client orientation.Read More »Master Classes Flower Export 2009 in Ethiopia

Growing importance of Remote Buying (KOA) in the EU flower trade

In The Netherlands, growing numbers of commercial companies are choosing remote buying to purchase their products on the auction. As with image auctioning, where the product is not physically present at the auction clocks, with remote buying (KOA), auction buyers need not be sitting in the stands.

Often, the wholesale companies have established a special dealing room on their company premises for this purpose. In the comfort of their own offices, anywhere in the world, they can buy online on all the FloraHolland auction clocks. Growers, who supply the products, can see in real-time on the Internet how the buying process is going.Read More »Growing importance of Remote Buying (KOA) in the EU flower trade