Member States' representatives officially adopted the amended EU aflatoxins maximum levels for tree nuts and amended aflatoxins sampling plan, under discussion since the adoption of the Codex levels in July 2008, at the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH) meeting that took place on October 15th, 2009.

After 12 years of unceasing efforts, the INC position regarding the sampling plan and maximum levels for total aflatoxins for further processing (15 ppb) and ready-to-eat (10 ppb) almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios, has been accepted for EU implementation. This success confirms the effectiveness of the nut industr’s vigorous, consistent and continuous efforts, under the leadership of Pino Calcagni, Chairman of the INC Scientific and Government Affairs Committee, and Julie Adams, Vice-Chairman.

Member States’ representatives adopted the following resolutions:

INC will be exhibiting at FHC CHINA 2009, the 13th International Exhibition for Food, Drink, Hospitality, Foodservice, Bakery and Retail Industries, in Shanghai, 18-20 November 2009. Food importers, distributors, wholesalers and processors, will meet at Shanghai New International Expo Centre. The INC’s objective is to meet with new potential attendees to next year Congress in China and to expand its membership in Asian countries.

We invite you to visit our stand at Hall W2 Stand 2X03.

If you plan to visit us we can send you free entrance forms. Please contact us at +34 977 331 413 or e-mail inc@nutfruit.org.

The INC exhibited at ANUGA 2009, one of the largest food and beverages fairs in Europe and very popular among importers and exporters around the globe. The fair was held in Cologne, Germany, from October 10 to 14, 2009, and gathered 6,522 exhibitors from 97 countries and 153,500 visitors from 180 countries, 61% of which came from outside Germany.

INC’s participation at ANUGA provided a great opportunity to reach new business contacts, while meeting INC members, and giving valuable information about nuts and dried fruits. In addition, INC’s booth at ANUGA Fine Food offered INC members a meeting point within the fair.

We would like to thank all visitors to our stand, and hope you have had a successful fair.

Iran Pistachio Association

The INC met Mr. Mohsen Jalalpour, Chairman of the Iran Pistachio Association, and Mr. Mojtaba Khosrowtaj, General Secretary, during ANUGA 2009. The Iran Pistachio Association (IPA) is a non-governmental organization that brings together pistachio growers, exporters, traders and operators. Mr. Khosrowtaj explained that its structure results in a greater cooperation and allows pistachio growers to be closer to and more aware of the pistachio market and the needs of their customers. IPA aims to establish an integrated nationwide communication platform to provide greater price stability, and may cooperate with the INC to exchange information.

IPA was exhibiting at ANUGA, at the Iranian pavilion, hall 2.1, for the first time. Its booth highlighted a number of important characteristics of Iranian pistachios in beautifully designed posters. Another highlight was a video displayed at the booth, illustrating the processing procedure as well as recent changes that have led to increased quantity and quality of Iranian pistachios.

For more information: www.pistachioassociation.com

The English version of IPA’s website will be released soon.

The INC, represented by Mr. Pino Calcagni, Chairman of the INC Scientific and Government Affairs Committee, and Mr. Antonio Pont Soriano, member of the same Committee, is attending the forthcoming UNECE Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards, to be held in Geneva, November 5-6, 2009. Among others, the agenda comprises the following items:

Specialized Section on Standardization of Dry and Dried Produce:

• Revised Standard Layout for UNECE standards on dry and dried produce
• Texts for adoption as new/revised UNECE standards:
• Pistachio kernels and peeled pistachio kernels
• Hazelnut kernels
• Blanched almond kernels
• Texts for extension as UNECE recommendations
• Dates
• Inshell macadamia nuts
• Macadamia kernels

Under the EU-Turkey Cooperation Scheme on Hazelnuts, delegations from the European Union and Turkey met in Istanbul, October 2nd 2009, in order to review the 2008-2009 campaign, inform on the 2009-2010 campaign, as well as to update on future roles of TMO and FISKOBIRLIK in the sector.

The meeting was chaired by Ömer Faruk Doğan, Ms. Tulu Gürakan from the Turkish delegation and by Mr. Dusan Chrenek, DG AGRICULTURE European Commission. The EU delegation was formed by the EC Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI), the EC Directorate General for Health and Consumers (DG SANCO), the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organizations (COPA), the General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives (COGECA), the European Federation of the Trade in Dried Fruit, Edible Nuts, Processed Fruits and Vegetables et.al (FRUCOM) and the Association of the Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery Industries (CAOBISCO). The Turkish delegation was formed by the Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade, the Undersecretariat for Treasury, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Turkish Grain Board (TMO), the Hazelnut Agriculture Sales Cooperatives Association (FISKOBIRLIK), the Blacksea Exporters’ Union and the Istanbul Exporters’ Union.

The delegations gave presentations on crop estimations, exports, consumption and domestic prices. The Turkish delegation informed about the new regulation on planning hazelnut production and determination of sowing areas (Council Decision published on July 15th 2009). TMO informed that it would not sell crop 2008 as long as there is a flow of crop 2009 into the market. The EU Commission declared that they would regard the high stocks to be a risk for the stability of the market and asked TMO for an appropriate stock management.

Mr. Frans Verstraete (DG SANCO) made a presentation about the amended Aflatoxin limits in almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios, and sampling plan to be decided in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH) meeting on October 15th 2009.

The 2009 International Seedless Dried Grape Producing Countries Conference was held in Hamburg, Germany, 15-16 October 2009, following the conclusion of the northern hemisphere harvest. The meeting brought delegations from the USA, Turkey, Iran, Chile, South Africa and Australia, and trade organizations from the UK and Germany to exchange information on world production and marketing.

The INC participated in the Conference represented by Mr. Erdinç Kapkaç and Mr. Barry Kriebel, members of the Board of Directors. A major focus of the meeting was the development of a closer link between the International Dried Grape Conference and the INC to progress issues covering statistical updates, promotion, and research activities.

The analysis of production estimates showed that the total availability of Thompson Seedless Raisins (TSR) and Sultanas had increased by 8% as world stocks carried into the new season increased slightly but still remained at historically low levels and major Northern Hemisphere countries (except Iran) reported reduced production levels. The Iranian crop had returned to normal levels following the small crop of 2008. The Conference concluded that the world supply position was adequate to meet market requirements.

World currants production was estimated at 30,200 MT, compared to 34,000 MT last year. It was noted a recent trend of smaller Greek crops when USA, South Africa and Australia reported slightly increased levels for 2009.

The Conference gathered the following 2009 production estimates:

Mr. Erdinç Kapkaç (Turkey), Member of the INC Board of Directors, was elected Chairman of the Conference. Mr. Chris Gunlund (USA) and Mr. Johannes Fourie (South Africa) were elected Deputy Chairmen. Mr. Sezmen Alper of the Aegean Exporters Association was elected Secretary.

The next Conference will be held in Izmir, Turkey, on October 11-13, 2010.

The INC is participating in the forthcoming 24th European Dried Fruit Meeting, to be held on November 20th, 2009, in Hamburg, Germany. Representatives from national and international associations of producers, importers, and exporters of nuts and dried fruits will meet to discuss on scientific and regulatory issues.

The Waren-Verein der Hamburger Börse e.V. will also host the Traditional Annual Dinner in the evening of the meeting day.

The INC Executive Committee met on October 17th, 2009, in Dubrovnik, Croatia, to review the financial plan and the strategic plan for priority actions. The performance of the different sub-committees was also examined, highlighting the adoption by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH) of the amended EU aflatoxins maximum levels for tree nuts and sampling plan, in alignment with the the Codex levels approved in July 2008.

The Committee also reviewed the preparations for the Congress in Beijing, the proposed program and speakers, and the forthcoming symposium sponsored by the INC that is taking place within the frame of the II International Congress of Nutrition, organized by the Federation of Nutrition, Food and Dietetics Associations (FESNAD), in Barcelona, March 4th, 2010, under the title “Nuts and Cardiovascular Health”. INC’s participation at the past Australian Nut Industry Conference, on August 20th, 2009, was also highlighted as a very positive and fruitful experience.

Just before the INC Executive Committee meeting, Mr. Jack Mariani, INC Chairman, Mr. Pino Calcagni, Chairman of the Scientific and Government Affairs Committee, and Ms. Goretti Guasch, Executive Director, travelled to Budapest, Hungary, on October 14-16, 2009, in the first steps towards preparation of the XXX World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress. The INC explored the different possibilities for organizing the 2011 Congress and visited the proposed venues for meetings and social events.