WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1170/97 by Gerardo FERNÁNDEZ-ALBOR to the Commission. Andalusian avocados in difficulty from Mexican competition
Date: 1997-04-03
Institutions: European Parliament, FERNANDEZ ALBOR
Subjects: Andalusia, Mexico, common organisation of markets, competition, customs duties, import (EU), market intervention, marketing standard, tropical fruit













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91997E1170

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1170/97 by Gerardo FERNÁNDEZ-ALBOR to the Commission. Andalusian avocados in difficulty from Mexican competition  


Official Journal C 373 , 09/12/1997 P. 0079 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1170/97 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor (PPE) to the Commission (3 April 1997)Subject: Andalusian avocados in difficulty from Mexican competitionAndalusian avocados, a hitherto prosperous crop which has experienced no marketing problems, is now suffering from foreign competition. Avocado production contributes some 12 billion pesetas to the Andalusian economy and represents the livelihood of some 5000 families.However, exports of this tropical product are endangered by competition from Mexican avocados, because Mexico, which has many problems in the US market, has turned to the EU as an outlet for avocados which are cheaper than their Spanish counterparts, thanks to the fact that Mexican labour costs are lower than those in Andalusia.Given that the outlook for the future is worrying, can the Commission tell me what options are available under the COM in fruit for protecting Andalusian avocados against foreign competition, given that this product is particularly important, both in economic and ecological terms, to the Andalusian economy?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (15 May 1997)The Commission is aware of the importance of avocado growing in southern Spain and the situation regarding imports, which increased by about 16% during the period 1991-95. Mexico is the Community's largest supplier of avocados and, together with Israel and South Africa, is responsible for 90% of Community imports.Avocados receive greater protection during the Community production period. Accordingly, conventional import duties on avocados are 7.5% from 1 June to 30 November and 4% during the rest of the year ((Commission Regulation (EC) No 3009/95 of 22 December 1995 amending Annex1 to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff, OJ L 319, 30.12.1995. )).The Commission nevertheless continues to monitor trends on this market and would point out that the new provisions under the reformed market organization for fruit and vegetables, particularly the operational funds, should make it possible to develop measures to improve the marketing of Community avocados. Moreover, Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 on the common organization of the market in fruit and vegetables ((OJ L 297, 21.11.1996. )) provides for the possibility of introducing specific measures to improve the marketing of certain products of local importance which are subject to strong international competition should the general instruments of the market organization prove insufficient.In addition, still in the context of the reform of the sector, a Community marketing standard for avocados has recently received a favourable opinion from the Management Committee.