Ongoing infringements regarding fruit and vegetable imports from Türkiye

Subject: Ongoing infringements regarding fruit and vegetable imports from Türkiye

The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) has registered 578 alerts regarding excessive pesticide levels in imported fruit and vegetables, with 50.52% of rejected produce coming from Türkiye1.

Further to my question E-000653/2022 of January 2022 on this matter, the Commission replied that a number products from Türkiye were listed in Annexes I and II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 and were subject to specific conditions and more intensive controls.

In view of this:

1. Can the Commission say what measures it plans to take in response to the findings of the latest annual report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) regarding the effectiveness of pesticide checks on fruit and vegetables imported into the EU, especially from Türkiye?

2. In view of Türkiye’s repeated infringements of the Regulation, what steps will it take to address the problem and tighten up existing regulatory framework provisions?

Submitted: 24.1.2023

1 https://www.makthes.gr/toyrkika-froyta-kai-lachanika-foyl-sta-lipasmata-aneparkeis-oi-fytoygeionomikoi-

elegchoi-stin-ellada-625021

Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

(17 March 2023)

Food products placed on the EU market must comply with maximum residue limits for pesticides (2). Member States have the primary responsibility to enforce EU legislation, monitor and verify that the relevant requirements of food law are fulfilled by food and feed business operators at all stages of production, processing and distribution (3).

The 578 Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notifications for pesticides on produce, of which 50.52% originated in Türkiye, provide sufficient evidence that controls at the EU borders are in place and are effectively protecting EU consumers.

Member States must carry out official controls and enforcement activities according to Regulation (EU) No 2017/625 (4) ensuring that products that are not in compliance with the respective legislation are removed from the market.

By regularly introducing amendments to the annexes of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/179 3 (5), taking into account new information related to risks and non-compliances observed at the EU borders, the Commission either enhances or reduces controls on fruit and vegetables imported from Türkiye, in order to safeguard the health of the citizens in the EU.

1 ∙ ⸱ https://www.makthes.gr/toyrkika-froyta-kai-lachanika-foyl-sta-lipasmata-aneparkeis-oi-fytoygeionomikoi-elegchoi-stin-ellada-625021

2 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32005R0396

3 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32002R0178 , art 17 (1), 19 and 20.

4 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32017R0625

5 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019R1793