Requirements for Exporting Fruit and Produce to Europe

Fresh Connect is a certified Thai fruit exporter. We’ll serve as your guide as we examine the requirements for shipping fresh produce from Thailand to the European market. We’ll explore the private certification of Global G.A.P. (Good agricultural practices) and the mandatory requirements under the law.

All of these laws and requirements are designed to improve the safety of food shipping and handling internationally.

 

 

Mandatory Requirements

The mandatory regulations and requirements cover food quality and safety. These laws change regularly to respond to new safety threats and the general circumstances of shipping. For the latest requirements, you can log onto Access2Markets. This E.U. website provides up-to-date information on the laws and requirements of importing and exporting products to specific European countries. It covers the additional requirements of the individual countries and the additional certificates required.

 

Use of Pesticides

The E.U. enforces the maximum residue levels (MRLs) of the limited pesticides it allows into the union. The MRLs are governed by European directives. Some countries within the E.U. can apply stricter guidelines than the E.U. generally requires. Information about products with excessive levels of pesticides can quickly be shared among the control bodies of the E.U. through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF).

 

Phytosanitary Regulations

Phytosanitary regulations refer to the presence of insect pests in the fresh fruits and vegetables imported from Thailand to the E.U. Thailand supplies phytosanitary certificates for all produce exported from the country. These certificates are required for produce being imported into the E.U.

The certificate assures European countries that the fruits and vegetables being exported into Europe have been inspected properly, are free of quarantine pests, are within the requirements of non-quarantine pests, and are practically free of other pests. In addition, the certificate assures authorities in Europe that the products are in line with the phytosanitary requirements per regulation (E.U.)

 

Food Control in the European Union

To reassure people in E.U. countries that fresh produce shipped into Europe from Thailand is safe, the produce is submitted for compulsory tests at their port of entry into the union.

• The phytosanitary certificates and any additional documents are checked
• Physical checks are performed to ensure the produce is free of any harmful organisms
• Identity checks are performed to ensure the produce corresponds to the certification

The traceability of produce brought into the E.U. is also compulsory and is an element of the food safety requirements and allows authorities to:

• Quickly identify the distributor who imported the produce
• Identify the businesses that received the produce
• Withdraw the produce from the market

 

Labeling and Packaging

Fresh fruits and vegetables must list the following information on their packaging:

• Name and variety of the produce
• Country of origin
• Name and address of the packer or distributor
• Marketing standards class and size
• Lot number for traceability or the GLOBAL G.A.P. number if certified, which is recommended
• Any post-harvest treatment the produce has undergone (anti-molding treatments of citrus fruits fall under this regulation)
• Any organic certification of the produce, including the name of the inspecting authority and the certification number

These labelling guidelines are designed to serve the needs of the consumers and the regulating authorities of the E.U. countries.

 

Fresh Connect is in Compliance with E.U. and U.S. Requirements

 

As a Thai produce packing house, Fresh Connect has established a streamlined and efficient cold chain management system between Thailand and the E.U. and the U.S. We are in compliance with all standards, requirements, and regulations of both Thailand’s export authorities and the E.U.’s import authorities. We comply with the requirements of:

 

Fresh Produce Standard

Good Agricultural Practices (G.A.P.) for Food Crops

This certification system for agriculture distributors and exporters was implemented by the Food and Agricultural Organization (F.A.O.) of the United Nations. It defines the best practices for handling and shipping perishable food crops.

GLOBALG.A.P.

GLOBALG.A.P. is a farm quality assurance program that adopts consumer concerns and requirements and converts them into good agricultural practices. EurepGAP was started in the late 90s by European grocers, supermarket chains and their suppliers. EurepGAP then changed its name to GLOBALG.A.P. in 2007.

USDA

The United States Department of Agriculture is the federal body governing the importation and exportation of agricultural products and issuing certification for compliant importers and exporters.

IFOAM

IFOAM helps farmers around the world facilitate their transition from their existing farming practices to sustainable organic agriculture and raises awareness of the need for sustainable agriculture.

Organic Agriculture Thailand (A.C.T.) Certification

This is an independent non-profit organization accredited by IFOAM that sets independent standards for organic agricultural practices and issues certifications of compliance.

 

Factory Standard

Good Hygiene Practices (GHPs)

We comply with Thailand’s food safety standards, which include good hygiene practices (GHPs).

SMETA

SMETA is an audit that’s undertaken by companies that want to comply with world standards of labor practices, health and safety, ethics, and environmental performance. SMETA is recognized worldwide.

 

Contact Us for More Information

For more information about Fresh Connect and to learn how to become one of our worldwide satisfied customers, contact us today.