"Hellenization" of Egyptian oranges, exports of Greek grapes to South Africa

The article highlights concerns regarding the import of Egyptian oranges with the intention of re-exporting them as Greek ornaments in the EU market or selling them domestically. The Incofruit - Hellas Exporters Association has called on state inspection services to ensure compliance with marketing standards and prevention of re-branding as Greek. In a positive development, the export of Greek table grapes to South Africa has been approved, following a request made in 2014. The Association anticipates similar openings for the Mexican and Vietnamese markets for Greek kiwifruit.

We have complaints about imports of oranges from Egypt with the aim of re-exporting them as Greek to EU markets or selling them on the domestic market. Mr. Georgios Polychronakis, Special Advisor to the Incofruit - Hellas Exporters Association, tells AgroTypos that “our information indicates the imminent arrival of Egyptian oranges (in large bins) in our country, for packaging and re-export to the markets of EU countries. We expect the competent state inspection services to take action to comply with marketing standards during import (mandatory standardization, etc.), as well as to safeguard their non-hellenization during re-export or any circulation on the domestic market (as Greek)”. In the meantime, the South African market has been opened for exports of Greek table grapes. The relevant request had been submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development since 2014. As Mr. Polychronakis points out, “interested exporters will be able to export table grapes from ...