Union Fleurs members gathered at IFTF in Vijfhuizen in the morning of 6 November prior to the International Floriculture Forum and caught up on a number of internal and external priorities for the association. The updated strategic & communication plan for the upcoming period 2018-2020 prepared with the new Union Fleurs board was presented and discussed with members, looking in particular at strengthening European membership and initiating focused activities for the pot plant segment. Updates were also given by Sylvie Mamias, Union Fleurs Secretary General, on several key policy issues of direct relevance for the floriculture trade (market access, phytosanitary issues, Brexit).
The meeting concluded with a constructive exchange of views with Edgar Krieger, Secretary General CIOPORA, Bruno Etavard, President IRBA (International Rose Breeders Association) and Micaela Filipppo, Legal Counsel CIOPORA. The guests presented and discussed with Union Fleurs members the objectives of the new 2019 CIOPORA & IBRA joint initiative on Increased controls of cut roses, which seeks to reinforce the respect of breeders’ rights and effectively enforce activities to stop the import of unauthorized cut roses into the EU and other territories. Active support from the trade by checking the IP compliance of imported roses and not dealing with material originating from unauthorized sources was particularly highlighted and called for.
