What is an OP (Organizzazione di Produttori - Producers Organization)?

The OCM reform stated that the OPs are to be considered the cornerstone of the fruit and vegetable sector, and their main goal is to keep improving it and making sure it works at its best every single day. This reform underlines that for an even higher demand for fruit and vegetable products, the supply response through the OPs becomesan economic necessity to reinforce the position of producers on the global market. The proposal approved by the Council also underlined that, based on the data collected, the OPs are the right tool to concentrate the offer. But how does an OP come to life? An OP must be developed on a voluntary basis and should always prove its usefulness thanks to the efficiency and the quality of the products and servicesproposed by the members that take part in the initiative. Since the OPs operate in the interests of their members, they must be considered as a single body that acts as a whole on the behalf of the various members, also from the economic point of view. The reform considers that their functioning must be made more flexible in order to make the attractiveness of the OPs increase.

This flexibility must be put into place in the choice of products of each OP, in the authorized proportion of direct sales, in the extension of the rules to non-members, and in the delegation of competence or functions from the OPs to the relevant associations as well as in the delegation of functions at branches. An OP which is capable of bringing up the objectives of the OCMis then recognized based on conditions that need to be respected and that, by statute, also its members need to respect. Environmental measures are increasingly assuming a pivotal role: OPs must create awareness for environmental protection in their activities by limiting pollution and environmental impact as much as possible. The requirements of the OPs provide that the company is established on the initiative of Reg (EC) no. 1782/3, or a natural or legal person or an association of natural or legal persons carrying on an agricultural activity and located within the boundaries of the established territory of the Community, pursuant to Article 299 of the Treaty. These associations must grow one or more fruit and vegetable products and / or products intended for processing.