FWD is urging the Government to relax new legislation on the storage of organic foods that could saddle wholesalers with extra registration and inspection costs.
The new law requires anyone storing organic products back up the chain from the retail level to register with one of ten certification bodies and be assessed once a year at an unspecified cost.
FWD has argued that the wholesale function in this case should not be viewed as "storage" or "warehousing" as such, but should rather be seen as an integral part of a continuous supply chain.
"Branded and packaged organic products are a very small element of a wholesaler's business and present minimal risk of contamination and/or substitution. However, they should be available through the wholesale/independent channel without added on-costs that will not apply to our competitors - the multiple supermarkets," says the FWD. A decision by the minister concerned is expected soon.
Will Government proposals to ban the display of tobacco in retail premises damage the wholesale sector?
- 27 November, 2008
FWD Annual Dinner & Gold Medal Awards
