I. CHEMICAL
MAXIMUM RESIDUE LEVELS (MRLS)
II. CHEMICALS AND ADDITIVE
INFORMATION
A. Chemical residue standards:
As a member of the European Union (EU), Greece
applies maximum residue levels (MRLs) as established by the EU.
Greece defers to MRLs established by the Codex Alimentarius
Commission on pesticide/crop combinations for which either no
national or EU maximum residue level has been established.
DPA (diphenylamine):
In November 2009, the EU Commission made an unanticipated decision
to stop the sale of products containing DPA (used in the U.S. for
scald control on apples) effective May 30, 2010. EU maximum
residue levels will be maintained through the end of the 2010-2011
marketing season and perhaps beyond. A legal challenge to
this decision has been mounted by the EU DPA Task Force and
additional residue studies are underway to address questions
raised in the EU risk assessment.
B. Monitoring chemical residues:
Greece actively monitors chemical residues on
imported apples, pears and cherries.
C. Restrictions on use of waxes:
The European Union (EU) permits the use
of white beeswax, yellow beeswax, candelilla wax, carnauba wax
and shellac on apples and pears (EC directive 95/2/EC).
Morpholine is not allowed to be present
as an additive to waxes or other food coatings. There is
active enforcement of this prohibition.
III. ORGANIC FRUIT REGULATIONS
All producers and
importers must comply with European Commission regulations
regarding the production, labeling, certification and control of
organic foods. Please refer to the Organic Fruit Regulations
section of the European Union page of this manual for more
information.
IV. TARIFFS
As a member of the EU, Greece imposes the EU's
tariff schedule and entry price system on apple, pear and cherry
imports. Please refer to the EU chapter for additional
information.
V. NON-TARIFF BARRIERS
A. Labeling requirements:
European Union (EU) labeling requirements apply.
Please refer to the EU chapter for additional
information.
B. Licenses and quotas:
The Minister of Commerce is authorized to impose
quotas or instruct the Bank of Greece to prohibit the issuance of
import permits.
European Union (EU) import license/quota
regulations, if any, apply. Please refer to the
EU chapter for additional information.
C. Currency Issues:
Approval is needed from the Bank of Greece for
foreign exchange.
D. Pest and plant disease restrictions:
Please refer to EU chapter for specific restrictions
which apply to all EU member countries.
E. Other trade restrictions:
Please refer to the EU
chapter for information on solid wood packing material
regulations.
