The sector associations forming the contact group from the various Member States, which met in Fundão, Portugal, on May 14 and 15, have carried out a study analyzing the active substances used in each country in the production of peaches and nectarines, and have identified those considered essential to maintain.
In line with decisions made by other contact groups, it was agreed to request that the European Commission implement a zonal, rather than country-specific, system for authorizing plant protection products in order to increase availability. Under such a system, a product authorized in Spain, for example, would automatically be approved in all countries of the southern zone. Current Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 on the marketing of plant protection products defines three zones for authorization: Zone A includes northern countries such as Denmark, Sweden, and Finland; Zone B includes central European countries such as Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria; and Zone C covers southern countries such as Spain, France, Greece, and Italy.
Regarding the 2025 campaign forecast in Spain, FEPEX’s stone fruit committee reported in late April that production was expected to be similar to last year, depending on weather conditions during the first half of May. However, hailstorms this month have significantly impacted production, and the total damage is currently being assessed. During the contact group meeting, it was also noted that other producing countries, such as Italy and France, have also suffered hailstorms, though their full impact has not yet been determined—particularly since those countries enter the season later than Spain.
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Italy has estimated a 7% drop in production for 2025 compared to last year. France expects a production level similar to 2024, highlighting a stabilization in cultivation in recent years.
The FEPEX delegation participating in the peach and nectarine contact group meeting included representatives from the Federation as well as the associations Apoexpa (Murcia), Afruex (Extremadura), and AEAMDE (Aragon).
It is expected that from next year, the peach and nectarine contact group will also include apricot, flat peach, plum, and cherry, and will be renamed the stone fruit contact group.
