Agen Prunes Bureau national Interprofessionnel du Pruneau (French Prune Board) Directorate for competition policy, consumer affairs and fraud control - DGCCRF Ministère de l’Economie des Finances et de l’Industrie – FRANCE – Marie-Isabelle TRIVES- CREMIEUX

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUX FRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/ France and the prune  Annual production of 45,000 T (15,000 T exported)  European market leader and in third place worldwide  1,400 prune growers (99% in growers’ organisations) representing 13,200 hectares, 32 processing firms

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUX FRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/ The prune down through the ages

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUX FRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/ Sales of French prunes (3-year average)

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUX FRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/ Agen prunes  Agen prunes have been awarded a PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) quality label. The PGI zone of Agen prunes (96 % of French prune production) takes in the communes of two regions: Aquitaine (89%): Lot-et-Garonne, Dordogne, Gironde Midi-Pyrénées (11%): Lot, Gers, Tarn-et-Garonne

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUX FRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/ The prune industry A major boost: The industry’s inter-professional organisation  The French Prune Board (BIP) was established in 1963  Its responsibilities: to represent the industry, to draw up and apply the inter-professional agreement, to standardise products, management and inspection, technical and technological development and to promote the prune.

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUX FRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/ The industry’s organisation (since 2009) AOPN: growers’ organisations Trade Association (Chambre Syndicale) private processing firms BIP FELCOOP: cooperative processing firms Principle of unanimity

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUX FRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/ Functioning: Management Committee Growers’ organisation Private processing firms The BIP’s MC Cooperative processing firms 8 members 1 vote Each college agrees before an inter-professional decision is taken. The 3 colleges must then agree unanimously.

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUX FRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/ A tense economic climate  European Union financial support for the prune industry has been regularly scaled down with total disengagement scheduled for  Production costs are constantly rising: drying (40% of expenses) in particular, takes the brunt of energy price hikes.  Tough international competition, especially from countries with low production costs (Chile, Argentina).  Lower consumption since the 2008 financial crisis coupled with lower sale prices.

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUX FRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/ The industry’s reactions  Improving competitiveness by cutting production costs (orchards and drying).  Better quality owing to the modernisation of production techniques and the awarding of the PGI. Protecting this high quality (work ongoing with the SCL – Labo33), together with an inter-professional communication strategy.  Highlighting the nutritional values of Agen prunes.  Diversifying markets by innovation.

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUX FRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/ A guarantee of authenticity, nutritional benefits Two spearheads of the industry’s protection and win-back plan:  Ensuring traceability of the geographical origins of prunes to prevent any fraud on Agen prunes.  Proving the beneficial effects of Agen prunes on certain chronic or metabolic diseases in line with major public health concerns.

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUX FRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/ Determination of geographical origin to guarantee authenticity  Active collaboration since 1982 with the Inter-Regional Laboratory of the General Directorate for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) Talence, followed by SCL – Labo33  Building a database containing analytical results on prunes with different origins: France, USA, Chile, Argentina.  Searching for distinguishing features: organic acids, minerals, heavy metals, rare metals.The reliability of these traditional analytical techniques and statistical tools is thought to be 95%.

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUX FRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/ Determination of geographical origin to guarantee authenticity For the last 3 years, the SCL has been conducting new research based on cutting-edge techniques:  Ultra-weak radioactivity measurement: joint study by the SCL- BIP-Université de Bordeaux-CENBG (PRISNA platform).  Isotopic analysis by IRMS (Isotope-ratio mass spectrometry) together with the BIP.  Analysis by NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopy. The SCL’s and BIP’s own work, using these techniques, is currently ongoing and should soon allow for 100% detection reliability.

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUX FRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/ The prune’s nutritional benefits Prune composition

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUX FRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/ Prunes and health  Monosaccharides (glucose and fructose) together with sorbitol and fibre  A mid-range glycemic index (52) and slow carbohydrate absorption  Prunes are very rich in minerals, in particular, in potassium (31% of RDI). Many vitamins, in particular, vitamin B1 (43% of RDI), B2, B5, B6 and beta-carotene

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUX FRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/ Prunes and health  Distinguishing feature of prunes: high phenolic acid and polyphenol contents which have a antioxidant effect

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUX FRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/ Prun’Active © Projet The launch, in September 2008, of a new 49-month project called Prun’Active ©. The aim is to scientifically identify the impact of Agen Prunes on the prevention of metabolic diseases. The total cost of the project, backed by the State (Single Inter- Ministerial Fund – FUI) and the Aquitaine Region, is €3.3 million.

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUX FRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/ PrunÔProtect Projet Preparation of a new 2-year project called PrunÔProtect Innovative formulations for Agen Prunes for the nutrition and health markets. The total cost of the project, supported by the Midi-Pyrénées and Aquitaine Regions, is €872,000.

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUX FRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/2011 Thank you for your attention