97.7% of Greek Food Products Meet EU Safety Standards, New Data Shows

Greece reported 97.7% compliance successful March 2026 pesticide residue checks connected plant-based nutrient products. Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Santeri Viinamaki / CC BY SA 4

Greece recorded a 97.7% compliance complaint successful pesticide residue checks connected plant-based nutrient products successful March 2026, according to information from the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food.

Authorities analyzed 311 samples arsenic portion of the country’s authoritative monitoring programme for pesticide residues. The results showed that the immense bulk of products met the maximum residue limits acceptable nether European Union rules.

The ministry conducted the analyses done its 2 authoritative pesticide residue power laboratories: the laboratory of the Benaki Phytopathological Institute and the laboratory of the Regional Centre for Plant Protection, Quality and Phytosanitary Control of Thessaloniki.

Greece’s pesticide residue checks covered imports and home products

According to the Directorate of Plant Production Protection, inspectors collected 45 of the 311 samples astatine Border Control Posts and 266 from the home market. The checks covered some imported and Greek products. In total, 124 samples came from imported goods, portion 187 acrophobic domestically produced products.

Spyros Protopsaltis, Secretary General for Rural Development and Food, said the March results corroborate that the overwhelming bulk of products reaching consumers comply with strict European standards.

He added that the ministry continues to transportation retired systematic inspections crossed the home marketplace and astatine the country’s borders. These checks purpose to support nationalist health, fortify user confidence, and enactment producers and businesses that travel the rules.

Non-compliant findings identified successful circumstantial products

The March inspections besides recovered a constricted fig of non-compliant cases. Authorities detected 3 samples containing progressive substances not approved for use.

Seven samples exceeded the maximum residue limits for pesticide residues. Of those, 4 whitethorn airs a imaginable hazard to consumers.

Inspectors recovered the non-compliant samples successful pomegranates, vine leaves, chamomile, chili peppers, spinach, potatoes, and apples.

In 2 cases involving imported products, authorities rejected the shipments astatine Border Control Posts and prevented them from entering Greece.

Border checks travel EU import power rules

Authorities tested the samples collected astatine Border Control Posts nether Regulation (EU) 2019/1793.

The regularisation requires accrued authoritative controls connected definite imported products that request person monitoring.

In March 2026, Greece besides submitted 4 notifications to the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed, iRASFF, concerning pesticide residues successful plant-based foods.