Additions to the EU-list Xylella host plant and plant passport requirement

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The European Commission has added the following host plants to the list (update 9). For all plants on this list plant passports are legally required in case of marketing within the EU.

The new host plants are:

  • Cercis siliquastrum
  • Cytisus villosus
  • Ficus carica
  • Fraxinus angustifolia
  • Lavandula x intermedia
  • Prunus domestica
  • Rosa canina
  • Vitis vinifera

For more information regarding plant passport and Xylella fastidiosa consult the NVWA website and NVWA Xylella.

For Arrangements quality code S53 (Pot material) will be mandatory from 1 September 2017

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For Arrangements, the pot material is increasingly considered important product information by buyers, partly due to specific questions from end buyers. The type of pot material is an important reason to buy an arrangement (or not). Given this development, we want to make this product information available as a mandatory, regulatory code. This proposal has been accepted by the VBN Regulations Steering Group.

For Arrangements (product groups 2 13 001 00 and 3 14 001 00), the quality code S53 (Pot material) will be mandatory from 1 September 2017 at position 5. This code has been advised for some time now.

Position Code Description Instruction
1 S01 Pot size Mandatory
2 S15 Transport height Mandatory
3 S03 Number of cuttings/plants per pot Mandatory
4 S05 Maturity stage Advised
5 S53 Pot material Mandatory
6 S51 Pot shape Advised

Via the link below, you can see a list of the quality codes:
Qualilty codes

The use of uniform symbols in the product information in the product specifications for pot orchids

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In 2014 the uniform product information symbols for pot orchids were introduced, after being approved by the FPC. Currently, around 40% of orchid suppliers use them.

The Chain Communication and Quality workgroup has recommended including the use of uniform symbols in the product information in the product specifications for pot orchids.

This proposal was approved by the FPC Pot Orchid and the VBN Regulations Steering Group.

There are several reasons for requiring the use of the uniform symbols on labels:

  • Uniformity ensures that consumers become familiar with the symbols and will eventually be able to recognise them, making the care of their plants easier to understand.
  • Uniformity fosters widespread communication about the care of pot plants. For example, consumers can find the symbols on websites or shop personnel can be trained and in turn inform consumers better.
  • If everyone keeps using their own symbols, consumers will find it difficult to understand how to care for pot plants, and there is no possibility of doing something about it.

In the product specifications for pot orchids, the following is included under the ‘Product-specific packaging regulations’:
It is mandatory for orchids in pot to be accompanied by product information using uniform symbols (insert or hanging labels or something else as long as it is associated with the product). The print files for the uniform product information symbols can be downloaded from the www.vbn.nl homepage under the heading ‘Symbolen’.

Product specifications easier to find on new VBN-website

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Searching for product specifications has become easier for suppliers and buyers. The information on www.vbn.nl is now arranged much more clearly so you can have an immediate overview of the minimum criteria that a product must fulfil.

Product specifications are the guidelines to assess and classify quality. Starting 15 May, the renovated VBN website is live with a new look & feel, better access to the product specifications and new software. Given the modern technology on this updated website, changes can be implemented more quickly and simply in the future.

Improved reliability
This overhaul also contributes to improving the reliability of the supply information. Our buyers frequently express their displeasure with the current state of affairs. That is why several improvements are being introduced with the aim: buyers can rely on the supply information provided at the clock.

Supply of modified orange petunia varieties no longer possible

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Royal FloraHolland is adopting the RIKILT findings and preventing the trade in modified orange petunia varieties by blocking the VBN codes.

In the Netherlands, research conducted by RIKILT has found that there are a number of genetically modified orange petunia varieties available. This study was commissioned by the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate.

In Europe, it is forbidden to grow and market genetically modified varieties unless permission to do so has been granted. The petunia varieties that have been identified so far as carrying the genetically modified orange gene are:

  • Viva Orange VBN product code 118676
  • Viva Fire VBN product code 110932
  • Potunia Plus Papaya VBN product code 113269

The following varieties do not have a VBN product code, but can be found on the markets in the Netherlands, Finland or Germany under the following names:

  • Pegasus orange
  • Pegasus Table Orange
  • Pegasus Orange morn
  • Bingo Mandarin
  • Bingo Orange
  • Go!Tunia Orange
  • Salmon Ray
  • Viva orange vein
  • African Sunset
  • Sanguna Salmon

How can we stop the supply?
Based on the outcomes of the above-mentioned research, Royal FloraHolland has decided today not to allow the supply of these varieties. To stop the supply to the marketplaces, we are taking the following measures:

  • The VBN product codes of the products in question can no longer be used.
  • We urgently ask suppliers of the listed varieties not to supply them, in whatever sales channel, so as not to cause trouble for our chain partners.
  • We shall contact growers supplying genetically modified petunia varieties to one of the Royal FloraHolland locations, and ask them to remove the supplied product and stop supplying it.
  • Extra inspections will be conducted in the supply processes to search for products of the genetically modified varieties.

Updating and simplifying product codes Cyclamen from 1 June 2017

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The chain has expressed a need for greater clarity regarding product names.
At the request of the Cyclamen product commission and buyers of Cyclamen, we are therefore reducing the number of product codes and making the product names uniform. The new classification of product codes goes into effect on 1 June 2017. This will make it easier for your buyers to market Cyclamen. And that of course benefits you, too! We worked together with breeders to achieve this result.

What will change precisely?

  • The number of product codes is being reduced from 480 to 107;
  • House Cyclamen: the ‘Other Cyclamen’ group is being removed. This group will be replaced by the ‘Cyclamen midi’ group;
  • We are adjusting the official characteristics (S-characteristics) and applying them also to the ‘indoor Cyclamen’ and ‘outdoor Cyclamen’ groups;
  • The clock name abbreviations have been made uniform;
  • With the new product codes the colour is being dropped from the product name. You can specify the colour under code S50.

What action is being asked of you?
Contact your software supplier in plenty of time to have these changes implemented in the systems you use.

New classification for Cyclamen product groups
House Cyclamen                                                           Garden Cyclamen

2 02 007 00 Cyclamen 3 10 207 00 Cyclamen
2 02 007 01 Cyclamen large flowered 3 10 207 01 Cyclamen other
2 02 007 02 Cyclamen small flowered 3 10 207 02 Cyclamen small flowered
2 02 007 03 Cyclamen midi 3 10 207 03 Cyclamen midi

Grading codes for ‘indoor Cyclamen’ and ‘outdoor Cyclamen’

Productgroep nr. GC 1 GC 2 GC 3 GC 4 GC 5 GC 6
2 02 007 00 (House Cyclamen) S01 S04 S50 S05 S54 S02
Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Advised Mandatory
3 10 207 00 (Garden Cyclamen) S01 S04 S50 S05 S54 S02
Mandatory Mandatory Advised Mandatory Advised Mandatory

S01 = Pot size
S04 = Minimum plant diameter
S50 = Flower color
S05 = Maturity stage
S54 = Plant (flower) shape
S02 = Minimum plant height

Enclosure: List of active product codes

Review the quality codes here.

The choice of pre-treatments for Bouvardia is being enlarged on 1 May 2017

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On 1 May 2017, there will be a change in the product specification for Bouvardia. The choice of pre-treatments for Bouvardia is being enlarged.

The Knowledge Centre conducted a study in the past year on behalf of the manufacturer Vaselife International to examine whether it is reasonable to add the product Vase Life Universal Hydrate 100 Clear Post Harvest (code 100 on the product’s label) to the product specification of Bouvardia. The study revealed that all criteria have been met for adding this product to the mandatory products in the product specification of Bouvardia.

Change:

  • From 1 May 2017, Vase Life Universal Hydrate 100 Clear Post Harvest (code 100 on the product’s label) will be added as an authorised product for pre-treatment for Bouvardia (already listed products remain authorised together with this new one).
  • You must state the correct code of the pre-treatment product in your supply information. With this code the laboratory can check that the pre-treatment product is being used correctly.
    • The grading code S65 pre-treatment must be added from today at position 6 in your EDF software package.
    • For grading code S65 you must select the correct pre-treatment product by using code 100 on the product’s label = Vase Life Universal Hydrate 100 Clear Post Harvest.

      This product should be administered according to the instructions for use.

Product group no. Name GC 1 GC 2 GC 3 GC 4 GC 5 GC 6
1 01 026 00 Bouvardia S20 S05 S65
    Mandatory Mandatory Pre-treatment

information code

S20 = Minimum stem length
S05 = Maturity stage
S65 = Pre-treatment

You can find the latest product specification on www.vbn.nl

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact:

Royal FloraHolland Laboratory
T 0174-632637 or 0174-632610
E laboratorium@royalfloraholland.com

The laboratory staff are available daily from 08:00 to 13:00. If you were not able to reach them at those times, please send them an e-mail.

Grading code S05 (maturity stage) is added to Salix (Deco green) from 1 June 2017

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Increasingly often, buyers are finding it important to know the maturity stage of Salix. To fulfil this request, we want to make supplying this information mandatory as an official quality code. This we will do in two steps.

The grading code S05 (maturity stage) is recommended from March 1, 2017 and mandatory from June 1, 2017 at Salix.

The grading codes for Salix (Group 107 013 01) are as follows from 1 June 2017:

Position Code Description Prescription
1 S20 Minimum stem length Mandatory
2 S33 Age grade timber Mandatory
3 S05 Stage of maturity Mandatory

In order to fill in the right codes for maturity, we made ripeness photos. These can be found on the website of the VBN.

You can examine all the grading codes using the link below: Grading codes for cut flowers

You must add the grading code S05 at position 3 in your EAB software package.

Grading code S05 (Maturity stage) mandatory by a number of Perennials from 1 March 2017

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Increasingly often, buyers are finding it important to know the maturity stage of perennials. To fulfil this request, we want to make supplying this information mandatory as an official quality code. This proposal has been accepted by the VBN Regulations Steering Group.

For the product groups listed below, the grading code S05 (stage of maturity) becomes mandatory from 1 March 2017 at position 4. Use of this code has been recommended for some time now.

Product group no. Product group name S05 Position Mandatory
310017 Aster Position 4 Mandatory
310015 Campanula Position 4 Mandatory
310021 Gentiana Position 4 Mandatory
310053 Helleborus Position 4 Mandatory
310121 Leucathemum Position 4 Mandatory
310007 Phlox Position 4 Mandatory
310141 Platycodon Position 4 Mandatory
310042 Rudbeckia Position 4 Mandatory
310010 Saxifraga Position 4 Mandatory

The link below contains a list of the quality codes
Quality codes

Reorganization product groups en product codes Citrus from 1 January 2017

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As you know, the horticultural sector is currently undergoing radical development in many areas. One of the evident trends in consumer needs is for edible plants. There is also a need to create more clarity in the chain regarding product names and uniformity of VBN coding. After going through an intensive process with various Citrus suppliers, buyers, Floricode, product manager and the Product Specifications Department and involving Royal FloraHolland regulations, the following changes are planned.

 

The product groups and codes for Citrus will be reorganised. Currently, they are distributed over 4 product groups. From 1 January 2017, there will be just one Citrus product group (3 05 133 01) containing 18 product codes.

 

In addition, the grading code S91 (common fruit name) has been created. Products are described with their botanical/scientific name. This grading code ‘common fruit name’ will assist consumers and the trade to understand better which product they are buying.

For example: Product code 47754 Citrus sinensis – with S91 set at 001, you can indicate an orange.

 

From 1 January 2017 the grading codes for Citrus are:

 

Position Code Description Prescription
1 S01 Pot size Mandatory
2 S02 Minimum plant height Mandatory
3 S46 Number of fruits/bunches Recommended
4 S91 Common fruit name Recommended
5      
6 S77 Edible/inedible Mandatory

 

You can use the link of which product codes are concerned and the content of grading code S91.

 

You can examine the quality codes using the link below

Quality codes