UNECE Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards
55th Session of the Specialized Section on Standardization of Dry and Dried Produce

The INC, represented by Pino Calcagni, Chairman of the Scientific and Government Affairs Committee, attended the 55th Session of the Specialized Section on Standardization of Dry and Dried Produce, held in Geneva, 23-27 June 2008. Representatives of France, Germany, Mexico, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey and USA attended the meeting.

• Discussion on the Recommendations for UNECE Standard of Pistachio kernels and peeled pistachios
  
  The Specialized Section agreed to add the option “Free from rancidity” to the provision concerning quality and agreed that sizing of pistachio kernels and peeled pistachio kernels is optional; when sized, sizing is done by the number of kernels per 100 grams or per ounce. The Section agreed to amend texts regarding presentation and marking. And finally several delegations recommended to increase the tolerances of halves (split) and broken if wholes are specified. They suggested that the percentage for Extra Class should increase from 15 to 20 per cent and for Class I from 20 to 30 per cent.
  
  After discussion on the recommendations adopted for pistachio kernels and peeled pistachio kernels, the Specialized Section reached agreement and recommended submitting the new amended texts for adoption by the Working Party as revised/new standards.

• Review of Recommendations for Blanched Almond Kernels
  
  The Specialized Section agreed to specify that the Standard is intended for “whole” sweet blanched almond kernels. The delegates agreed to amend provisions concerning quality and minimum requirements, such as the replacement of “desiccated” by “dehydrated” in the description of shrunken and shriveled kernels. Delegates agreed to reflect that sizing is optional for every class and to add several amendments in the table of tolerances and the provisions concerning marking.
  
  The Specialized Section recommended submitting the amended text on blanched almond kernels to the Working Party for trial use until the end of 2009.

• Revision of UNECE Standards of Inshell Walnuts
  
  The majority of delegates decided to recommend the adoption of the 2002 version and send it to the Working Party. The delegation of Germany was opposed to the revised Standard and may request the introduction of reservations at the forthcoming meeting of the Working Party.

• Revision of UNECE Standards for Hazelnut Kernels
  
  As regards tolerances, the Specialized Section agreed to remove the footnotes concerning old crop and amend the table of tolerances regarding damage caused by cimiciatto pentatomidae. Pest damage caused by cimiciatto will be allowed, provided that the flesh is not affected and the spot on the skin does not exceed 3 mm in diameter. The Section approved a new table with the allowed defects for the different categories in more detail.
  
  The Specialized Section recommended submitting the amended text on hazelnut kernels to the Working Party for trial use until the end of 2009.

• New UNECE Standards for Inshell Macadamia Nuts and Macadamia Kernels
  
  The Specialized Section agreed to amend the section “B. Moisture content” of “Provisions concerning quality” increasing the maximum allowed value from 3.0 to 10.0 per cent for inshell nuts. Regarding the provisions concerning sizing, the Section agreed that size will be determined by the diameter of the shortest axis of the shell when the produce is sized, and added a new definition about uniformity in size. The Specialized Section also introduced several changes to the table of tolerances and amended the provisions concerning marking.
  
  The revised text of the Recommendation for macadamia kernels and inshell macadamia nuts were recommended for trial use until the end of 2010. Delegations were invited to study the cases in cooperation with the industry, and submit their comments to the secretariat.

The Section asked the USA to make some changes to the proposed color gauge for inshell walnuts and walnut kernels. The delegation informed that the US walnut industry is planning to submit the brochure on inshell walnuts and walnut kernels by 15 August 2008 for comments prior to the November meeting of the Working Party.

The delegation of Germany expects to present a revised version of the Standard for Whole Dates, aligned with the current standard layout, at the 2009 meeting of the Session. Delegations were invited to submit their comments to the German delegation.

Annual Consultation Meeting under the EU-Turkey Cooperation Scheme in Hazelnuts
Reus (Spain), 10-11 July 2008

Under the EU-Turkey cooperation scheme on hazelnuts (Decision 1/98 of the EC-Turkey Association Council, Protocol 1, Annex 2), delegations from Turkey and EU met in Reus, Spain, 10-11 July 2008, in order to review the 2007/2008 season and the market situation for hazelnuts, production forecasts, stocks, expected producer and export prices and market management policies.

Statistical presentations were given by the EU Commission and the Turkish delegation. The delegation from Turkey gave a presentation on production, exports and prices, forecasting a 2008 hazelnut crop of 800.000-850.000 MT (in shell).

Mr. Frans Verstraete, DG SANCO, gave a presentation on the recent decision of the Codex Alimentarius Commission of new maximum levels for aflatoxins and the consequences for the EU legislation. Mr. Verstraete pointed out that the EU has agreed to adapt the decision to a very wide extent. A guidance document will be released in August 2008 and the review of Commission Decision 2006/504/EC on special conditions governing certain foodstuffs imported from certain third countries due to contamination risks of these products by aflatoxins is expected by the end of this year.

FRUCOM General Assembly
Brussels (Belgium), 9 July 2008

FRUCOM celebrated its General Assembly on July 9, 2008, in Brussels. The INC was kindly invited to attend the meeting and was represented by the Executive Director, Ms. Goretti Guasch. Other associations like CENTA UK, Almendrave-Spain, ANEIOA, Waren-Verein, NZV Netherlands, Aegean Exporters Association and Black Sea & Istanbul Exporters were also attending the meeting.

The vice-President, Mr. Thomas Haas-Rickertsen, and the second vice-President, Mr. Michael Becker, thanked the INC for attending the meeting and for its continuos collaborations, and FRUCOM Secretariat reported about the activities developed last year and the activities carried out by the different working groups on nuts, fruits and vegetables. The activities of the Scientific Committee were also reported and it was emphasized the collaborative INC-FRUCOM project being successful with Codex to raise the aflatoxin levels for almonds, pistachios and hazelnuts. Sampling plans and future actions for Aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin levels for dried fruits were also discussed.

The meeting included an Administrative Session followed by a final presentation delivered by Helen Lee from the EU- DG SANCO, who reviewed the EU Food Labelling legislation and the proposal of the Commission on the provision of food information to consumers.

INC participated at the IFT Food Expo in New Orleans

The INC exhibited at the IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, USA, June 29 – July 1, 2008. This is the fifth year the INC exhibits at the IFT Food Expo, after its participation in 2003 in Chicago, 2005 in New Orleans, 2006 in Orlando and 2007 in Chicago.

Attendees from more than 80 countries around the world converged to hear about the latest food science and technology developments, learn about the newest products and trends and form new professional relationships. This year’s meeting focused on the topic of “Driving Growth and Sustainability through Innovation”. The event included more than 200 educational sessions.

With more than 1,000 exhibitors and 500 ingredient companies, the event brought together buyers and sellers from all corners of the food science and technology world. The participation of the INC at the IFT Food Expo was a great chance to provide valuable information about nuts and dried fruits, to meet with long-term customers, to develop new ones, to expand business contacts and promote the INC activities.

Over the course of this three day event, we had the chance to meet new members, as well as several of our members and many visitors interested in the INC and the World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress. The INC booth consisted in a 3 x 3m space, located at the International Pavilion. To publicize INC’s activities various brochures and informative materials were distributed.

EXPONUT and Dried Fruit 2008
Istanbul (Turkey), 21-23 August 2008

For its 4th year, Exponut, the International Trade Fair for Nuts and Dried Fruits, Related Products and Technologies will be held on Istanbul, Turkey, from 21st to 23rd August 2008.

Exponut will gather together suppliers, packaging companies, exporters, importers and producers. This year, organic products will also take place at the fair. The program includes the section “ChoCoTech, Chocolate and Confectionery Technologies” as well as seminars and meetings. Delegations will also have the chance to visit the main producers of the Aegean and Black Sea areas.