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G ood A gricultural P ractices Programme of the Horticultural Chilean Industry. Edmundo Araya – General Director (FDF) 21-26 of july 2003 – Guatemala. CHILE MACRO-REGIONS. Chile is divided in seven Macro-Regions, which have:
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GoodAgriculturalPracticesProgramme of the Horticultural Chilean Industry. Edmundo Araya – General Director (FDF) 21-26 of july 2003 – Guatemala
CHILE MACRO-REGIONS • Chile is divided in seven Macro-Regions, which have: • RELATIVELY HOMOGENEONS CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. • SIMILAR GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS. CENTRE-SOUTH: ANNUAL CROPS WINE WOOD AND CELLULOSE BERRIES MEET SMALL NORTH: HORTICULTURE PISCO OYSTERS CENTRE: HORTIFRUTICULTURE WINES ANNUAL CROPS LARGE NORTH: HORTIFRUTICULTURE, CAMELIDOS (CARNE, LANA) SOUTH: CEREALS, MEET WOOD SALMONS OYSTERS BERRIES EXTREME SOUTH: SHEEP WOOD
DESCRIPTION OF THE HORTICULTURAL INDUSTRY • Nowadays, more than 8.000 producers involved in horticultural activities. • 470 exporting companies • 2100 hectares planted areas. • Objective markets: more than 70 Countries all over the world. • More than 75 species of fruits internationally traded. • Among the export sector, Agriculture is the most important one, representing around US$5.000 millions ( 25,9% represented by fresh fruits) *Dates updated to August 2002 Source: Agreement SAG/ASOEX
SOURCE FAO 1998, MIL OF TONNES COMPARATIVE SITUATION • At present , the Chilean market share of the total exports from the Southern Hemisphere reaches 48% (Grapes, apples, kiwi fruits, pears, etc). • Leader among Southern Hemisphere exporting countries: New Zealand, Australia, Argentina and South Africa.
SPECIES AND EXPORT MARKETS. (2001/02) 1.716.000 Ton SOURCE: AGREEMENT ASOEX/SAG
GLOBAL SUB-TROPICAL FRUIT EXPORTS RANKING SPECIES SOUTH HEM. GLOBAL Grapes N° 1N° 1 Apples N° 1 N° 2 Peaches N° 1 N° 5 Pears N° 2 N° 3 Kiwi-Fruit N° 2 N° 3 Avocado Nº 1 Nº 2 Berries N° 1 S/I Source: FAO (1998)
Chilean Fruits Development Foundation • Founded in 1992, as a technical, scientific, private, self-directed andnon-profit organization, by the initiative of Chilean Fresh Fruits Exporters, as a way of facing, under an associative base, technological sector’s challenges. • Coordinates and carries out R & D projects with Universities, National and International institutions sponsoring R & D initiatives, etc. • FDF has carried out around 40 projects and provides specialized training and advice. • Active collaboration and involved with producer’s associations, and different committees such as: Codex , UN-ECE, EAN, SAG, INN, GAP National Commission, Biotechnology, etc.
Good Agricultural Practices for the Horticultural Chilean Sector.
CHILE has a modern Legal Framework in topics regarding: • Food Hygiene Regulations. • Basic Law for Environmental issues. • Worker’s place hygiene regulations. • Registration and use of Pesticides and Crop Protection products. • Law for the protection of Fauna and Flora. • Labour Law etc.…
GAP Requirements by the main importing FFV markets (USA-UE) • Since 1997 GAP and GMP Standards/protocols have arisen, associated to different food chain stages (fields, packing, transporting, etc). • Several of these standards are initiatives coming from supermarkets and company associations. • Nowadays, the horticultural global industry, particularly suppliers “Claim” to high costs associated to providing the satisfaction of several market quality requirements. There is a high proliferation of GAP Standards and certifications schemes (EUREPGAP, Nature’s Choice, ProSafe, British Retail Consortium, SQF, Food Safety Global Initiative, etc.)
The response of the Chilean Private and Public Sector • Since 1998, ASOEX publishes the Pesticides Agenda (quarterly updated)-it contains information regarding Maximum Pesticides Residue and product’s pre-harvest intervals for applications. • In 1996 a diagnosis of presence of heavy metal residues on fresh fruits and vegetables exports was carried out by the industry. The outcome-Excellent! • 1997-1999 two national diagnosis on presence of pathogens (E.Coli, Salmonella, etc.) on fresh fruits and vegetables for exports was carried out for the industry. First year: Critical points were identified. Second year: good results, with specific issues to be resolved in the packing lines. • In 1990, FDF published “Fresh fruits and vegetables Hygiene Guidelines”, including components of international regulations (USA, EU and Codex). • In 2000, ASOEX and FEDEFRUTA signed agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture, Min. Health and Environment, RREE and CORFO to carry out the GAP Programme (Public-Private).
The response of the Chilean Private and Public Sector • 2000, ASOEX and FEDEFRUTA named FDF as the technical organism responsible of implementing the GAP Programme . • The Programme is on a voluntary base, implies low costs for the participants, is non discriminatory and supported by the Government. • In 2001- establishment of the GAP National Commission-provides advice to the Minister of Agriculture and congregates the fresh industry and governmental institutions. • Since 2002, the GAP National Commission started the development of National Standards for specific products. • In 2002, FDF established agreement with authorized EUREPGAP certifier body, to carry out auditoria and certification process to producers. Outcome: Chile has approximately 100 certified fields. • In 2003, FDF is the EUREPGAP official training organism, delivering training in Chile and Latin America. At the same time certification activities to fields in Costa Rica and Ecuador.
Why did the Chilean horticultural Industry decided to carry out the GAP Programme? • Chile, as key international market fresh fruit supplier, must give a quick and efficient response to the market requirements. • Quality concept nowadays, includes GAP and GMP. • Importing markets request for inspections, audit and certifications. • Wishing to reduce the cost involved in the private certification process, but we preferred to provide compliance reports, attempting not to increase the request for a new certification. • Clear market opportunity: product’s differentiation.
GAP PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES • To provide sustainable, “documented and assessed”, agricultural framework, in order to produce fruits and vegetables taking into account environmental considerations, hygiene and safety aspects, worker’s health and compliance with National Labor Laws. • Implementation of GMP and Control of Potential Critical Points during the post-harvest chain. • Product Traceability and Control of Operations throughout the FFV Chain. • Competitive Sector. • To ensure a non-discriminatory process.
PROGRAMME DOCUMENTS • PROGRAMME MANUAL - Detailed programme description. - Standards or protocols (fields , on farm packing, mechanized packing, etc.). - Regulations. • GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES GUIDELINES - Integrated Management of fruit trees. - Integrated Management of horticultural crops. - Management of specific crops (a, Carozos, Grapes, Tomato, others to be published soon) - Storage and use of Agrochemical products. - Internal & External Auditing. - Hygiene Practices in fields and packing. - In elaboration (Traceability, Transport, etc.) • RECORD KEEPING NOTEBOOK (fields and Packing)
How does the GAP Programme work? • Farm’s programme annual fees are defined according to the farm’s size (fees rank between: US$ 110 to US$ 225. Fields Packing US$ 235 and Centralized packing US$ 525. • Programme members receive the programme documents to be used during the growing season. • Producers should gradually implement the items defined in the protocol. Farm’s auto-assessment and FDA’s audit highlight the priorities (compliance criteria are: major and minor Musts and recommendations). • Farms are visited by a technical team taking samples of : water (irrigation, spreading, human consumption), surfaces in contact with the produce (containers, worker’s hands, etc) and harvested fruits. On these samples microbiological analysis are carried out. Also pesticide residue analysis on the harvested product.
How does the GAP Programme work? • FDA Auditors visit each farm twice/year, in order to assess the level of compliance with the Protocol. • After the second visit, the producer receives an “Audit Report”, with the final evaluation (including the results of the Lab analysis and their interpretation). • During the winter season, FDA organizes training courses with the objective of analyze and discuss the results during the growing season-identification of key aspects to be strengthened. • Fields requiring EUREPGAP certification pay an additional fee of around US$400 and access to the official certification through an agreement with the certification companies.
Results- Growing Season 2001-2002 • FIELDS
Results- Growing Season 2001-2002 • FIELD PACKING
Results- Growing Season 2001-2002 MECHANIZED PACKING
Key elements of programme’s success • Technical Advice:at all levels-different food chain players. - CORFO Instruments (Subsidies) • Training - Agreement FDF –Chilean Foundation. - Creation of training institutions by ASOEX y FEDEFRUTA - Sence Law (Subsidies) - Seminaries. • Documents - attractive and easy to understand. - Based on a practical approach. • Gradation: “step by step”.
Programme Goals 2003-2004 • Continue Programme Improvement. • Gaining international recognition by the buyers all over the world. • The GAP Chilean Programme has been structured according to the International Certification Systems. It is expected to obtain direct buyer’s acceptance of the Programme. • Achieving EUREPGAP BENCHMARKING.
FDF- GAP Activities in the last three years • Continues Research & Development (private and public support) in the following topics: - Liquid waste management. - Pathogenic Surveillance after fruit’s contamination. - Development of a quick Kit for Cyclospora cayetanensis. detection. (Patent in process) - Coordination and edition of the Phytosanitary Manual 2002-2003. • National Diagnosis of pesticides residues on export produce. • Selection and training to professionals as GAP inspectors and auditors. • FDF and Chile Foundation are EUREPGAP official training bodies. • FDF has carried out more than 3000 GAP audits to fields and packing houses. • FDF has carried out around 50 audits for EUREPGAP Certifiers.
EUREPGAP CERTIFICATION IN CHILE. • Few buyers are requiring such as certifications. • In 2002 the first fields/orchards were certified. • Very expensive for the producer. • Benchmarking of national programmes helps to reduce the certification costs. • Be aware of the risk of certifications as a new trade Barrier!!.
Some recommendations for the Producers in the Region • Working together- Producer’s and Exporter’s associations. • Support the first steps of GAP programme implementation with importing market standards/protocols. • Review of the national regulations-laws associated to GAP. • Involve the national authorities-GAP seen as a national priority. • Harmonization process of protocol/standard to the local conditions. • Determine priorities at the local level-Compliance criteria. • Training and technical advice. • Strengthening cooperation and information exchange among the countries in the region and with the target markets.