FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE
U.S. MISSION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION

 Last update:  June 25, 2009

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Common Market Organization

Producer Organizations (PO's) are the key elements in the EU's Common Market Organization (CMO) for fruit and vegetables. PO's can be recognized for marketing products falling within the following categories: fruit and vegetables, fruit, vegetables, products intending for processing, citrus, nuts and mushrooms. EU subsidies are not paid to individual producers but are channeled through PO's. In order to qualify for EU subsidies, PO's must submit an operational program financed by an operational fund. The EU's financial contribution is paid directly into the PO's operational fund. Imports into the EU of fresh fruit and vegetables are checked for compliance with EU-harmonized marketing standards.  These standards apply at all marketing stages and include criteria such as quality, size, labeling, packaging and presentation.

Council Regulation 1182/2007, laying down specific rules to reform the CMO for fruit and vegetables, entered into force on January 1, 2008.  This reform aims to bring the F&V sector in line with other sectors that have already been reformed under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).  Decoupled payments replace the old-style production linked payments.  Commission Regulation 1580/2007 lays down rules for the implementation of the reform.  For more information see GAIN report E48001.

Reports

	EU-27 | Annual Citrus Report (June 2009)
	EU-27 | Annual Treenuts Report (April 2009)
	EU-27 | Fruit and Vegetables CMO (December 2007) E48001
	EU-27 | Annual EU Citrus Report (December 2008) E48134
	EU-27 | Annual Fresh Deciduous Fruit Report (December 2008) E48136
	An archive of EU and Member State reports is available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/attacherep/default.asp.

Certification

	EU Authorizes a Reduction in the Frequency of Phytosanitary Inspections for US Apples (September 2005) E35173
	EU Conformity Certificate Requirements for Fruit and Vegetables ( March 2003) E23043
	For more information see "Certification of Plant Products"