PORTUGAL

Capital: Lisbon
Population:  10,708,000
Currency: Euro
Official Language(s): Portuguese

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), Portugal applies maximum residue levels as established by the EU.

      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:

      Samples are taken from imported fruit and analyzed by the phytosanitary services of the Crop Protection General Directerate (DGPC).  Sample collection procedures follow EU legislation. National Procedures incorporating those norms are listed in "NORMA PORTUGUESA 4193" of the Portuguese Quality Institute, dated November 1992.

    C. Restrictions on use of waxes:

      The 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 European Union (EU), Portugal imposes 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 labeling requirements in the EU chapter.

    B. Licenses and quotas:

      EU licensing/quota regulations, if any, apply.  Please refer to the 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

Portuguese producers benefit from EU supports, which are mostly channeled into the investment support area.  Specific marketing actions are also subsidized.  Please refer to EU chapter for additional information.

VII.  OTHER RESOURCE LINKS:

Governmental: 

VIII. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The U.S. is considerably affected by the local import tariff regime. Local apple, pear and cherry trade is dominated by the EU, which accounted for 82% of total CY-98 national apple imports, 48% of pear imports and 100% of cherry imports during the same period.  Imports from non-EU countries are dominated by South American and South African exporters, which benefit from off-season production.

Special thanks to
FAS Field Office - Lisbon

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

E-mail general@nwhort.org