The European Commission has revealed that four batches of Turkish lemons were prevented from entering the European Union in September following the detection of chlorpyrifos residues in concentrations that were double the MRL established by EU legislation.
One batch was rejected in Greece and three in Bulgaria.
“For the present 2016/17 campaign, which began in September, Commission Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 subjects Turkish lemons to special and reinforced controls by European control authorities, including laboratory analysis,” the commission said in a press release.
“These four health alerts notified through the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) database confirm the deficiencies in the official Turkish control system regarding the commercialisation and use of phytosanitary products, and provide key information for distribution chains and
European consumers by highlighting the issues facing Turkish lemons for failing to meet the EU food safety standards.”
