I. CHEMICAL MAXIMUM
RESIDUE LEVELS (MRLs)
II. CHEMICALS AND ADDITIVE INFORMATION
A. Chemical residue standards:
As a member of the European Union (EU), France applies
maximum residue levels (MRLs) as established by the EU as well
as setting its own standards for chemicals not regulated by the
EU.
B. Monitoring chemical residues:
France actively monitors chemical residues on imported fruit.
No pesticide residue is allowed on or in fruit unless the
chemical is authorized for agricultural use.
C. Restrictions on use of waxes:
The EU permits the use of white beeswax, yellow beeswax,
candelilla wax, carnauba wax and shellac wax on apples and pears
(EC directive 95/2/EC).
III. ORGANIC FRUIT REGULATIONS
France does not allow organic
fruit imports from non-EU countries unless authorized by the
French Ministry of Agriculture.
Labeling
of Organic Product: Unprocessed organic plant products
can mention "organic production" as the farming method
and may display EU Member state allowed terms. Products that
are transitioning to organic may not use "organic
farming" in their trade name but may state "product
under conversion to organic farming." Packaging must be
label with:
Name and Address of the
producer, processor or importer
Name of the product
Organic Product
Batch Identification code
Country of Origin
Size and Grade information
Distribution:
Organic food stuffs must be transported in sealed containers or
packaging to guard against content substitution in transit.
The "AB" logo is a French logo
identifying organically grown product.
For more information, visit the EU chapter.
IV. TARIFFS
As a member of the European Union (EU), France
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. Labels should be
in French.
Post harvest labeling: French law requires labeling,
at the wholesale and retail level, of fresh fruits exposed to
post harvest chemicals.
Labels must indicate when applicable:
- "Conserve au moyen de..." (method of
preservation...)
- "traite au ..." (treated with . . .) followed by
the name of each post-harvest chemical used on the product.
- "enrobe de cires vegetales" (coated with
vegetable waxes), or "agent d' enrobage . . ."
(coating agent. . .) followed by the names in French of the
waxes.
Consumer packages: Pre-packed fresh fruits and
vegetables should indicate clearly the name and address of a
distributor/importer/wholesaler and/or packer in the
European Community.
Pre-packed fresh fruits and vegetables should indicate a
manufacturing lot number listed on the packaging or on the
commercial documents accompanying the product and should be
preceded by the letter "L."
The label should be part of the packaging, either affixed
to the packaging or printed on the packaging.
B. Licenses and quotas:
EU licensing/quota regulations, if any, apply. Please refer
to the EU chapter for additional information.
C. Currency Issues:
D. Pest and plant disease restrictions:
E. Other trade restrictions:
Please refer to the EU chapter for
information on solid wood packing material regulations.
VI. SUBSIDIES
French apples benefit from EU export subsidies when sold to
certain non-EU countries, including Scandinavian countries, Saudi
Arabia, Singapore and Malaysia. Apples and pears receive market
promotion assistance from SOPEXA, the quasi-governmental
promotional association for agricultural products.
The Fruits and Vegetable Marketing Board
(ONIFLHOR-VINIFLHOR) manages and disburses all EU and French
subsidies to the fruit and vegetable industry. From
2001-2006, the focus of this organization has been on improving
the quality of product. Past assistance has helped to
renovate orchards and purchase and build equipment.
In February of 2004 the French Ministry
of Agriculture announced that it will spend $62 million over a
five year period to support conversion from traditional to organic
farming.
Please refer to
the EU chapter for additional information.
VII. MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES FOR PACIFIC
NORTHWEST TREE FRUIT INDUSTRY
VIII. OTHER RESOURCE LINKS:
Governmental:
IX. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Special thanks to
FAS Field Office - France
