Sustainability criteria for Vegetables | The National Agency for Public Procurement

Vegetables
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	EU-organic product	Core	Technical specification
Criterion information Organic production promotes sustainable agriculture. Organic farming should respect nature's ecosystems and different natural cycles, and strive to maintain and improve the quality of soil, water, plant health and the health of animals. The balance between all elements is to be maintained and preferably improved. Criterion text Food products must be produced in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council on organic production and labelling of organic products.
	Organic product - addition fruit and vegetables	Advanced	Technical specification
Criterion information Organic farming should respect nature's ecosystems and different natural cycles, and strive to improve the quality of soil, water and plant health. Through further requirements regarding energy use, the climate impact of production can be reduced. Criterion text Raw materials of fruit, berries and vegetables grown in greenhouses, shall be produced in accordance with regulation (EU)2018/848 on organic production and labelling of organic products as well as in accordance with at least one of the following requirements: Either: of the total annual energy use for heating, cool rooms, lighting and production of CO2 at least 80 per cent shall come from renewable energy¹ or waste heat. or: fossil energy use shall not exceed 2.5 kWh per m2 and growing week, on average during the cultivation period.
	Information about origin of the raw material – plant products	Core	Technical specification
Criterion information Transparency and traceability within the food supply chain is a prerequisite to being able to monitor both environmental requirements and social requirements within the supply chain. A requirement for information regarding the origin of raw material, along with the possibility for monitoring, ensures traceability for the contracting organisation. Criterion text For food products from vegetable raw material, information regarding the country(ies) of origin of the material(s) shall be available and can be presented upon request during the contract period, including any substitute items. Information regarding the raw material's country(ies) of origin shall contain: The country(ies) in which the raw material is grown. The country(ies) in which the raw material is processed, where relevant.
	GMO-free products	Core	Technical specification
Criterion information Procuring authorities that have taken a stance against GMOs may consider requesting this. The environmental impact from genetically modified organisms has not yet been The use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) is not common in food products within the European market, rather they are primarily found in animal feed. Contracting organisations that have taken a stance against GMOs may consider requesting GMO-free products. Criterion text Products containing fruit and vegetables shall not consist of, contain, or have been created from genetically modified organisms (GMO). Traces of authorised GMO¹ are permitted under the condition that they are unintentional or technically unavoidable, and that they do not constitute more than 0.9 per cent of each individual raw material in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 on genetically modified food and feed.
	Post harvest chemical treatment - vegetables	Advanced	Technical specification
Criterion information Post harvest chemical treatment is a plant protection product that can be used to protect against, for example, fungal pathogens, or to prevent germination during storage. The requirement aims to reduce the use of these substances and to limit unnecessary exposure for consumers. Criterion text Chemical plant protection products that are fungicides are not permitted in the treatment of fresh or cooled table potatoes and root vegetables after harvest. For germination-inhibiting treatment of stored table potatoes, only plant protection products that contain the active substances 1,4-Dimethylnaphthalene, orange oil, and spearmint oil may be used.
	Energy efficiency and renewable electricity	Spearhead	Technical specification
Criterion information By increasing the efficiency of energy use and replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy, the climate impact of cultivating fruit and vegetables can be reduced. Choosing products that have been grown in agreement with such terms is a way of contributing to a lower climate impact. Criterion text Fruit and vegetable products from open-field farming or greenhouse cultivation shall be produced in accordance with the following terms: An energy assessment and an energy efficiency plan that cover the direct energy consumption during the production of the product must be available. 100 per cent of any purchased electricity shall be origin labelled and from renewable energy sources¹.
	Tailored fertilisation - fruit and vegetables	Spearhead	Technical specification
Criterion information The use of phosphorus and nitrogen in agriculture is one of the main causes of eutrophication in rivers, lakes, and seas. Requiring that the amount of fertiliser is tailored to the needs of the cultivation and conditions present can contribute to reducing nutrient leaching and to a lower climate impact. Criterion text In the cultivation of fruit or vegetables, fertiliser shall be applied in a way that reduces the risk of nutrient leaching. The amount of fertiliser shall be tailored to the needs of the cultivation and the conditions present. This means that: There shall be documentation in the form of a cultivation plan, fertilization plan, or similar. This includes the product's nutrient requirements along with planned dosage of phosphorus and nitrogen in the form of mineral fertiliser, manure and/or other organic fertiliser. All applications of fertiliser, including watering with fertiliser and/or foliar fertilisation, to the soil or plants, is recorded.
	Biodiversity	Spearhead	Technical specification
Criterion information Global food production poses one of the most serious threats to biodiversity. Within agriculture there are good possibilities for working in a systematic way to protect and promote biodiversity, and that is the aim of this requirement. Criterion text Products from fruit and vegetables shall be grown in line with a systematic and documented work method related to biodiversity. This shall, as a minimum, include: Documentation, for example an analysis or risk assessment that demonstrates that the grower understands the effects that the cultivation has on biodiversity. Documentation, for example an action plan, that describes the measures that have been conducted in order to protect and promote biodiversity in the cultivation. The requirement does not apply to greenhouse cultivation.
	Socially responsible cultivation	Core	Special contract terms
Criterion information Fruit and vegetables can have global supply chains. Globally there are large challenges connected to working conditions within agriculture. Therefore, it is important to specify requirements that protect workers rights within the agricultural operations from which products are purchased. Criterion text Raw materials consisting of fruit and/or vegetables that are supplied in accordance with the contract shall be cultivated under working conditions compatible with: ILO's core conventions on forced labour, child labour, discrimination, freedom of association and the right to organise, and occupational health and safety (nr 29, 87, 98, 100, 105, 111, 138, 182, 155 and 187). The laws regarding work environment and labour, applicable in the country where the labour is performed. If the regulations do not live up to ILO's fundamental conventions, then the conventions shall apply.
	Returnable crates	Core	Technical specification
Criterion information The use of returnable crates minimises the use of single-use packaging whilst simultaneously allowing for simpler and more efficient handling in the goods flow. This requirement aims to reduce the amount of single-use packaging within the food sector – cardboard in particular – and thereby contribute to the more efficient use of resources Criterion text Whole fresh fruit and vegetables shall be delivered in returnable boxes from the supplier to the kitchen; that is, the products shall be delivered in reusable packaging that is designed to be reused in a reuse system during its lifecycle in accordance with SS-EN 13429:2004.1 Packaging – Reuse or an equivalent standard.
	Returnable crates for increased circularity	Advanced	Technical specification
Criterion information The use of returnable crates minimises the prevalence of single-use packaging whilst simultaneously allowing for simpler and more efficient handling in the goods flow. On the advanced level, returnable crates shall be used throughout the value chain to contribute towards a transition to circular solutions. Other relevant product groups can be included on agreement with the supplier. Criterion text Processed products made from fruit and vegetables, such as fresh, chilled vegetables and root vegetables/potatoes that are peeled, washed and chopped, and precooked products shall be delivered in a returnable crate throughout the value chain from the primary producer/processing plant to the kitchen; that is, the products shall be delivered in reusable packaging that is designed to be reused via a reuse system during its lifecycle in accordance with SS-EN 13429:2004.1 Packaging – Reuse or an equivalent standard.

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