Northwest Horticultural Council

Export Manual

IRELAND

Capital: Dublin
Population: 5,177,000
Currency: Euro
Official Language(s): Irish, English

I. CHEMICAL MAXIMUM RESIDUE LEVELS (MRLs)

Please click on the above link for a list of chemical MRLs.

II. CHEMICALS AND ADDITIVE INFORMATION

A. Chemical residue standards:

As a member of the European Union (EU), Ireland applies maximum residue levels as established by the EU as well as setting its own standards for chemicals not regulated by the EU.  Codex standards may also be used as a guideline where no MRLs are established.

B. Monitoring chemical residues:

All fruits and vegetables are monitored for chemical residues on a regular basis by the Department of Agriculture and Food’s Pesticide Control Service.

C. Restrictions on use of waxes:

The EU permits the use of white beeswax, yellow beeswax, candelilla wax, carnauba wax and shellac on apples and pears (EC Directive 95/2/EC).

Morpholine is not allowed to be present as an additive to waxes or other food coatings.  There is active enforcement of this prohibition.

III. ORGANIC FRUIT REGULATIONS

All producers and importers must comply with European Commission regulations regarding the production, labeling, certification, and control of organic foods.  Please refer to the Organic Fruit Regulations section of the European Union page of this manual for more information.

IV. TARIFFS

As a member of the European Union (EU), Ireland imposes the EU’s tariff schedule and entry price system on apple, pear and cherry imports. Please refer to EU chapter for additional information.

V. NON-TARIFF BARRIERS

A. Labeling requirements:

EU labeling requirements apply. Please refer to the EU chapter for additional information.

B. Licenses and quotas:

EU licensing/quota regulations, if any, apply. Please refer to the EU chapter for additional information.

C. Currency Issues:

None

D. Pest and plant disease restrictions:

Please refer to the EU chapter for specific restrictions which apply to all EU member countries.

E.  Other trade restrictions:

Please refer to the EU chapter for information on solid wood packing material regulations.

VI. MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES FOR PACIFIC NORTHWEST TREE FRUIT INDUSTRY:

Pear Bureau Northwest:

Andrew Brown
Surrey, ENGLAND
Voice:   011-44-1-483-416136
Fax:      011-44-1-483-426662
E-mail:  andrew@andrewbrownassociates.com

VII. OTHER RESOURCE LINKS:

Governmental:

United States:

• U.S. Mission to the European Mission
• The World Factbook (Central Intelligence Agency)
• Ireland (U.S. Commercial Service/Department of Commerce)
• U.S. Embassy

Ireland:

• Food Safety Authority of Ireland

VIII. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Most shipments from the U.S. have to be transshipped via a European port because there is no direct service to Ireland. This raises costs and lengthens shipping time, sometimes resulting in spoilage.

Special thanks to
FAS Field Office – Ireland