Fruit and vegetables quality

Consignments of fresh fruit and vegetables imported from third countries must comply with marketing standards and other equivalent standards.

Commission Implementing Regulation 543/2011 lays down general and specific marketing standards in respect of import of fresh fruit and vegetables. The specific marketing standards are set out as regards apples, citrus fruit, kiwifruit, peaches, nectarines, pears, strawberries, peppers, table grapes, tomatoes, lettuce, curled-leaved and broad-leaved endives. Bananas falling within CN code 0803 00, excluding plantains, fig bananas and bananas intended for processing are subject to inspection carried out according to the specific marketing standards laid down in Commission Implementing Regulation 1333/2011. Other types of fruit and vegetables are subject to general marketing standards.

Compliance with marketing standards is not required for fruit and vegetables intended for industrial processing, animal feed or other non-food use. Such consignments must be clearly marked “intended for processing” or “for animal feed” or any other equivalent wording. The following products are also not subject to marketing standards: non-cultivated mushrooms, capers, bitter almonds, shelled almonds, shelled hazelnuts, shelled walnuts, pine nuts, pistachios, macadamia, pecans, other nuts, dried plantains, dried citrus, mixtures of tropical nuts, mixtures of other nuts and saffron.

The authority competent for fresh fruit and vegetables sector is the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Food Safety, Veterinary and Plant Protection (hereinafter referred to as UVHVVR).

Fresh fruit and vegetables which are subject to quality control according to the specific marketing standards must be checked by a UVHVVR inspector before their release for free circulation or export. Such checks are carried out at border inspection posts (the Port of Koper, Jože Pučnik Airport and Ljubljana Post Office) or other control points (Ljubljana, Obrežje, Sežana, Celje and Maribor). A customs authority releases a consignment into free circulation on the basis of a certificate of conformity which is set out in Annex III to Commission Implementing Regulation 543/2011  for  fresh fruit and vegetables and in Annex II to Commission Implementing Regulation 1333/2011 for bananas. In case inconsistencies are established during an inspection, a customs authority informs the competent regional UVHVVR office.