EU extends quality compliance deadline

Ray Smuts THE EUROPEAN Union has yet again extended its quality compliance deadline for fruit, flower and vegetable exporters, this time till the end of March 2003. The measure applies to all fresh fruit, flowers and vegetables imported by the EU, stipulating that all such consignments be inspected for conformity to prescribed quality standards. To have been implemented on January 1 2002 initially, it was then extended to March of the same year before yet another extension, presumably to allow all EU member countries enough time to get their monitoring systems up and running. In terms of the new regulations verification will have to be effected by computer or some other mechanical method as handwritten certification will no longer be acceptable. The extension gives South Africa time to install and test equipment at some 1 700 inspection stations, and for EU inspectors to acquaint themselves with this country’s export certificates and the names and signatures of its (South African) inspectors.