New import requirements for fruit and vegetables (end product)
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01

New import requirements for fruit and vegetables (end product)

On April 11, 2022, additional or amended requirements will apply to imports from one or more countries for some types of fruit and vegetables. This applies to Annona, Carica papaya, Psidium gujava, Capsicum, Solanum and Momordica. The changes are related to new quarantine organisms and stricter requirements for some existing quarantine organisms.


If you want to import these products from the affected countries after April 11, 2022, the authorities of the exporting country must take immediate action. For example, for the options pest-free production location or production location, official inspections must be carried out several months before export. If a country uses another option to meet the requirements, it must be notified in writing to the EU in advance.


Below you will find for which products and countries there are new or changed requirements. You can also see here what the requirements essentially entail. The exact requirements can be found on the EU website, in document EU 2021/2285, Annex VII; the document is available in multiple languages. Within a few months, the requirements can also be consulted on the NVWA website, in the document ‘Registrations for imports of fruit and vegetables’.


New requirements

Requirements will apply for the following products:

  • Annona and Carica papaya from Africa and Asia because of Bactrocera dorsalis (Tephritidae), (Annex VII, point 72.2)
  • Psidium gujava from Africa and Asia due to Bactrocera dorsalis, and B. zonata (Tephritidae), (Annex VII, point 72.3)
  • Capsicum and Solanum from Africa and Asia, because of Bactrocera latifrons (Tephritidae), (Annex VII, point 72.1)

You may import these fruits if the authorities of the exporting country have informed the EU in advance in writing about national freedom or territorial freedom, or about the details of a system approach or harvest treatment. You may also import fruit from a production site if the relevant drill fly has not been found during official inspections. To this end, the authorities must inspect the production site and the immediate surroundings every month from three months before the harvest, and the harvested product before export. When using this option, the traceability information must be included on the phytosanitary certificate.

There will also be requirements for:

  • Capsicum and Solanum lycopersicum from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and United States due to Prodiplosis longifila (gall midge), ((Annex VII, point 68.1)

You may import these fruits from an area where the gall midge does not occur or from production locations where a system approach or harvest treatment has been applied. In both cases, the authorities of the exporting country must have informed the EU in advance in writing. You may also import fruits that have been produced at least 2 months before export or during their entire life cycle in a location with physical protection against this gall midge. This is subject to the condition that the gall midge was not found during official inspections during this period.


Changed requirement for Momordica

You may only import fruit from Momordica from countries or areas that are free from Thrips palmi. A new feature is that the authorities of the exporting country must notify the EU of this freedom of land or territorial freedom in advance in writing. (Annex VII, point 71).
If you have any questions, please let us know and we will look for the answers.