BELGIUM

Capital: Brussels
Population:  10,275,000
Official Language(s): Dutch, French and German
Currency: Euro

I. CHEMICAL MAXIMUM RESIDUE LEVELS (MRLs)

Please click on the above link for a list of chemical MRLs.

II. CHEMICALS AND ADDITIVE INFORMATION

    A. Chemical residue standards:

      As a member of the European Union (EU), Belgium applies Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) as established by the EU, as well as setting its own standards for chemicals not registered by the EU.

    B. Monitoring chemical residues:

      Chemical residues are actively monitored by the Belgian Ministry of Public Health/Food Inspection Services and by the Belgian Ministry of Agriculture/Inspection of Raw Materials.

    C. Restrictions on use of waxes:

      Belgium adheres to the EU policy permitting the use of white and yellow beeswax, candelilla wax, carnauba wax and shellac on apples and pears (EC directive 95/2/EC).

III. ORGANIC FRUIT REGULATIONS

All producers and importers must comply with EC regulation 2092/91 which regulates the production and labeling of organic foods.  For Belgium, products are certified by BLIK (www.blik.be) and ECOCERT (www.ecocert.be).  U.S. organizations that comply with EU organic legislation can be found at the ECOCET web page.

IV. TARIFFS

    As a member of the European Union (EU), Belgium applies the EU's tariff schedule and entry price system on apple, pear and cherry imports. Please refer to EU chapter for additional information.

V. NON-TARIFF BARRIERS

    A. Labeling requirements:

      European Union (EU) labeling requirements apply. Please refer to EU chapter for information on labeling requirements.

    B. Licenses and quotas:

      EU licensing/quota regulations, if any, apply.  Please refer to EU chapter for additional information.

    C. Currency Issues:

      None.

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.

VI. SUBSIDIES

The Belgium government supports apple and pear producers through a support price system purchasing apples and pears if domestic prices fall below EU-determined levels.  Please refer to EU chapter for additional information. 

Belgium also provides an interest rate reduction program that allows producers to deduct up to five percentage points from the prevailing market interest rate for new investments.  Producers using integrated production techniques (similar to IPM) receive a $275 hectare subsidy funded by both the EU and the Belgium government.  

VII.  MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES FOR PACIFIC NORTHWEST TREE FRUIT INDUSTRY

Pear Bureau Northwest:

Frederik D. van der Monde
I.M.D.C. sprl
Brussels, BELGIUM
Voice/FAX:   011-32 2 346 4250
Cell:  011 32 477 616 582 
E-mail:  IMDC@skynet.be 

VIII.  OTHER RESOURCE LINKS:

Governmental: 

IX. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Special thanks to
FAS Field Office - Belgium

105 South 18th Street, Suite 105
Yakima, Washington 98901, USA
Voice: (509) 453-3193, Fax: (509) 457-7615

E-mail general@nwhort.org