EUREPGAP applications in the European Union and its possible implications on Turkish fresh fruit and vegetable export

ABSTRACT EUREPGAP APPLICATIONS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS ON TURKISH FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE EXPORT M.NisaMENCET M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Agricultural Economics Adviser: Assist. Prof. Dr. Cengiz SAYIN January 2005, 99 Pages Agricultural and food safety standards have launched due to applying non-tariff measures in recent years with increasing aggregate world quantity of supply and variety richness, necessity of trade regulations among the regions and countries in the world and to meet consumer demand for food safety. In this context, EUREPGAP practices are started to apply as a non-tariff measure by European Retailer Group who belongs to European Retailer Working in 1997. Major retailer groups have brought conformity condition to provide healthy agricultural products to consumer, new regulation with EUREPGAP protocol for both imported agricultural products to European Union (EU) and grown production in the EU. Turkey export 1,5 million tones fruit and vegetable and approximately, half of that value (50 %) export has done to EU countries as a target market. Beside this, fresh fruit and vegetable has an active role to balance domestic price. Therefore in this study, EUREPGAP practices and its impact on Turkish fresh fruit and vegetable are aimed. On this account, secondary data is obtained and research findings are used, fresh fruit and vegetable marketing problems and their solutions are discussed. KEY WORDS: EUREPGAP, food safety, fresh fruit and vegetable export, EU COMMITTEE: Assist. Prof. Dr. Cengiz SAYIN (Adviser) Prof. Dr. Burhan ÖZKAN Prof. Dr. AH KOÇ