Northwest Horticultural Council

Export Manual

PORTUGAL

Capital: Lisbon
Population: 10,207,177 (2024)
Currency: Euro
Official Language(s): Portuguese

Member of the European Union

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), Portugal applies maximum residue levels as established by the EU.

B. Monitoring chemical residues:

Samples are taken from imported fruit and analyzed by the phytosanitary services of the Crop Protection General Directorate (DGPC). Sample collection procedures follow EU legislation. National Procedures incorporating those norms are listed in “NORMA PORTUGUESA 4193” of the Portuguese Quality Institute, dated November 1992.

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), Portugal imposes the EU’s tariff schedule and entry price system on apple, pear, and cherry imports. Please refer to the EU page for additional information.

V. NON-TARIFF BARRIERS

A. Labeling requirements:

European Union (EU) labeling requirements apply. Please refer to labeling requirements on the EU page.

B. Licenses and quotas:

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

C. Currency Issues:

None.

D. Pest and plant disease restrictions:

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

E. Other trade restrictions:

Please refer to the EU page for additional information.

VI. OTHER RESOURCE LINKS:

Governmental:

VII. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The U.S. is considerably affected by the local import tariff regime. Local apple, pear and cherry trade is dominated by the EU, which accounted for 82% of total CY-98 national apple imports, 48% of pear imports and 100% of cherry imports during the same period. Imports from non-EU countries are dominated by South American and South African exporters, which benefit from off-season production.