Subject: Protection of Greek table olive producers from massive imports of dubious quality from third countries
According to recent Commission data released in February 2021, EU table olive imports from third countries, mainly Morocco, Turkey and Egypt, have been steadily increasing over the years,
undercutting European producers and forcing them to sell at ridiculously low prices.
Moreover, according to recent EFSA findings, these imported products are of dubious quality in terms of health standards, amply justifying continued protests by Greek producers of Kalamata and other olives.
In fact, pesticides and crop treatment products that are not authorised in the EU and are classified as mutagens, carcinogens or endocrine disruptors, are permitted in these third countries. In view of this, and given that the safety of European consumers is an absolute priority for us all:
1. Can the Commission say what measures it intends to take to protect Greek table olive producers from being unfairly undercut by imports?
2. How will it ensure that table olives from third countries can only be imported into the EU if they comply with the same rules and production requirements as those applicable in the EU?
3. How does it view the relevant European Parliament amendment to Article 188a of the Regulation establishing a common organisation of the markets (CMO)?
Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski on behalf of the European Commission (10 August 2021)
1. The Commission has not received any indication of a difficult market situation in the table olive sector in Greece and in the European Union. According to Eurostat, annual imports of table olives from third countries into Greece have been stable at around 10 000 tonnes since marketing year 2016/17, representing 5% of Greek production. For the current marketing year, imports have been reported at 8 000 tonnes until 31 March against the five-year average of 6 000 tonnes. For the same period, extra-EU exports from Greece increased significantly to 61 000 tonnes until 31 March, compared to the five-year average of 51 000 tonnes. In relation to prices, Member States started notifying prices for table olives as of this year only (1), which will allow the Commission to start monitoring prices development in the near future.
2. All products imported from third countries into the EU must comply with EU import requirements. No imports of goods including table olives are allowed that would constitute a health risk to EU consumers.
3. The Commission greatly welcomes the political agreement of the Parliament and Council on the Common Agriculture Policy reform proposals, including on the regulation on the common market Organisation. A number of statements on future policy orientations in relation to imports are part of this package. The Commission is open to solutions that give effect to the European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork strategy and the Trade Policy Review. This is particularly true in relation to the need to ensure that the EU trade policy is consistent with the sustainability objectives. The Commission will support outcomes that are in line with its international commitments, particularly at the World Trade Organisation.
⋅1∙ Regulation (EU) 2017/1185 of 20 April 2017 laying down rules for the application of Regulations (EU) No 1307/2013 and (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European
Parliament and of the Council as regards notifications to the Commission of information and documents and amending and repealing several Commission Regulations (OJ L 171, 4.7.2017, p. 113).