Unfair competition from uncontrolled imports and the labelling of fruit and vegetables from Turkey and other third countries as Greek

Subject: Unfair competition from uncontrolled imports and the labelling of fruit and vegetables from Turkey and other third countries as Greek

Greek fruit and vegetable production is coming under growing pressure, with

harvesting costs on the rise as a result of successive crises, compounded by over-ambitious ‘green’ targets that small farmers in particular find it difficult to meet.

On the other hand, demand for available fruit and vegetables is constantly waning, primarily due to the supply of products from third countries such as Turkey that are subject to hardly any form of inspection. In addition, the devaluation of the Turkish lira is making such products even more competitive within the EU, especially since they may be unlawfully labelled as Greek due to the inadequacy of customs inspection procedures and of quality controls in Thessaloniki, giving rise to frequent complaints.

As a result, uncontrolled and dangerous Turkish products are being consumed in Europe, while European products remain unsold and are being left to rot. The RASFF has flagged excessive pesticide residues in certain foods that have accordingly been impounded and taken out of circulation by the authorities.

In view of this:

1. Are resources available to ensure that all imported fruit and vegetable consignments are subject to quality controls, for example in the form of effective inspection procedures at the border or accompaniment of consignments to the Thessaloniki laboratories for sampling?

2. Will the Commission call for the effectiveness of Greek customs procedures to be verified?

3. Is there any prospect of reviewing the institutional framework provisions governing the inspection of fruit and vegetables imported from third countries?

Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski on behalf of the European Commission (26 March 2021)

Chapter II of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 (1) lays down rules on conformity checks carried out on fruit and vegetables at all marketing stages, in order to verify that they conform to the marketing standards. In particular, Article 9 attributes to Member States the responsibility to designate coordinating authorities and inspection bodies. Therefore, it is up to Member States to ensure that resources are available to ensure that all imported fruit and vegetable consignments are subject to quality controls.

Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 (2) establishes temporary increases of official border controls and special import conditions with respect to health on certain fruits and vegetables from certain third countries, including Turkey. Border control posts, designated by Member States, are required to have sufficient resources to allow the performance of official controls according to Article 64 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 (3).

The Commission will contact the Greek authorities in order to verify the factual situation at stake and the correct application of EU legislation by the national control authorities.

The Commission intends to update Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 in the context of the Farm to Fork strategy.

⋅1∙ Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 of 7 June 2011 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007

in respect of the fruit and vegetables and processed fruit and vegetables sectors (OJ L 157, 15.6.2011, p. 1). ⋅2∙ Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 of 22 October 2019 on the temporary increase of official controls and emergency measures governing the

entry into the Union of certain goods from third countries implementing Regulations (EU) 2017/625 and (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 277, 29.10.2019, p. 89).

⋅3∙ Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the

application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1069/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 1151/2012, (EU) No 652/2014, (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulations (EC) No 1/2005 and (EC) No 1099/2009 and Council Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC and 2008/120/EC, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 89/608/EEC, 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 96/23/EC, 96/93/EC and 97/78/EC and Council Decision 92/438/EEC (Official Controls Regulation) (OJ L 095 7.4.2017, p. 1).






| | )The Commission reviews the specific measures applicable to particular fruits and vegetables in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 on a regular basis not exceeding a period of six months, in light of available information related to risks and non- compliance, including the outcome of official controls carried out by Member States and notifications made in the Food and Feed Safety Alerts (RASFF).