Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/57720
EU regulations stifle fruit exports Exporting to the European Union will become more and more challenging. by Melissa Hansen P acific Northwest apple and pear exports to Europe have dropped dramatically since pesticide regulations were harmonized among members of the Euro- pean Union. Restrictive pesticide residue limits of the European Union have required U.S. producers to adopt chemical use practices and compliance systems unique to the EU market, and that's cut into exports, says a Pacific Northwest tree fruit industry spokes person. In the last six years, apple exports from the Northwest have declined from more than 1.35 million to around 500,000 boxes, a drop of 60 percent, and pears went from around 300,000 to less than on U.S. apples, even when packing lines have been cleaned for runs of fruit without the morpholine wax. Detection of the chemical in Chilean apples in late 2010 caused disruption in the market, he said, adding that food products in the European Union are tested by private laboratories, not by government entities. Michael Willett 145,000 boxes, a decline of about 50 per- cent for the same time frame, said Dr. Michael Willett, vice president for scien- tific affairs for the Northwest Horticultural Council. "The East Coast ships about a half million cartons of apples to the United Kingdom, and they, too, have lost substantial market due to a wax issue." When the European Union harmo- nized regulations governing plant protec- tion chemicals in 2008, the harmonization made it easier for EU countries to ship to each other, Willett explained. But the new requirements also included more strin- gent maximum residue limits, or MRLs, that apply to imported products. MRLs for a chemical used in common fruit waxes and two chemicals used to prevent scald in apples and pears have been causing problems for U.S. fruit exporters. Morpholine in wax Morpholine, an ingredient used as an emulsifier in fruit wax formulations, is approved for use in most major apple- producing countries, said Willett. But morpholine, along with other amines that improve the wax shine, are not approved in the European Union, meaning there is no legal MRL. Because morpholine can be detected down to 0.1 parts per million, inadvertent residues have been a problem 26 MARCH 15, 2012 GOOD FRUIT GROWER What's good for the orchard is bad for the family tree. Delegate® WG insecticide from Dow AgroSciences uses an innovative mode of action to deliver fast knockdown and long-lasting control of codling moths — along with leafrollers and a broad spectrum of other insects — before they damage pome fruit. With Delegate, there won't be any pest reunions in the orchard this season. Just high-quality apples. Science. Yield. Success.™ www.goodfruit.com