FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE
U.S. MISSION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION

Last update:  February 27, 2009

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EU Marketing Standards for Fruit and Vegetables

Imports into the EU of fresh fruit and vegetables are checked for compliance with EU-harmonized marketing standards.  These standards apply at all marketing stages and include criteria such as quality, size, labeling, packaging and presentation. Standards have been established for:

Vegetables

Fruit
Artichokes Apples, amendment 1, amendment 2
Asparagus Apricots  
Aubergines Avocados
Beans Bananas
Cauliflowers Cherries
Cabbages, Brussels Sprouts, Ribbed Celery and Spinach / Headed Cabbages (amended by Reg. 782/2007) Citrus
Carrots Hazelnuts
Courgettes Kiwifruit
Cucumbers Melons, amendment
Cultivated Mushrooms Peaches and Nectarines
Garlic Pears
Leeks Plums 
Lettuces and Endives Strawberries
Miniature Produce  

Table Grapes
Onions and Witloof Chicory Walnuts, amendment re "California Walnuts"  
Peas  Watermelons
Sweet Peppers EU standards for almonds have not yet been adopted.
Tomatoes    
   

Rules applicable to mixes of different types of fresh fruit and vegetables in the same sale package, corrected by Regulation 6/2005

  

NEW RULES:

As of July 1, 2009, existing marketing standards will be repealed for 26 products: apricots, artichokes, asparagus, aubergines (eggplant), avocadoes, beans, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflowers, cherries, courgettes (zucchini), cucumbers, cultivated mushrooms, garlic, hazelnuts in shell, headed cabbage, leeks, melons, onions, peas, plums, ribbed celery, spinach, walnuts in shell, water melons and chicory.  Fruit and vegetables not covered by a specific standard must conform to the general marketing standard established by Commission Regulation 1221/2008.  Products that are in conformity with any applicable standards adopted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) will be considered as conforming the general marketing standard.

Regulation 1221/2008 maintains specific marketing standards for 10 products: apples, citrus fruit, kiwi fruit, lettuces, peaches and nectarines, pears, strawberries, sweet peppers, table grapes and tomatoes.  The specific marketing standards are set out in Part B of Annex I to Regulation 1221/2008.

For more information see GAIN report E49013 "Fruit and Vegetables: EU Marketing Standards (February 2009)

For additional information on marketing standards for fruit & vegetables, please contact Mr. Dorian LaFond (International Standards Coordinator), USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, phone 202-690-4944, fax 202-720-8871, e-mail:  Dorian.Lafond@usda.gov

 

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