REWE, Tengelmann and Norma join EUREPGAP enabling EUREPGAP to extend its position on the German market.
 
Around 70% of sales of fresh fruit and vegetables in German food retail are now made by companies that are members of EUREPGAP. "We have reached a situation that many producers have wished for, and not only in Germany: This gives us a chance to achieve a consistent positioning for the whole German retail sector regarding quality assurance system requirements for fruit and vegetables", says Dr. Kristian Möller, Managing Director of EUREPGAP.

The organisation based in Cologne now has fruit and vegetable producers in more than 80 countries worldwide certified, and it also approves national quality assurance systems as soon as they meet the EUREPGAP standards that have been agreed worldwide.

Although the fruit and vegetable sector still predominates at present, the global harmonisation of good agricultural practice standards is continuing in other product groups with the help of EUREPGAP. The EUREPGAP integrated farm assurance audit covers products ranging from grain to beef, pork, poultry, salmon and flowers. A standard for shrimps and a standard for cotton are currently being developed.

The relevance of the last-mentioned product groups for EUREPGAP member companies can be seen in the involvement of the Metro Group in a shrimp project in Vietnam and the involvement of the Otto Group in a cotton project in West Africa. Both certification modules are being developed in close consultation with environmental and social groups and associations.