EU alleges suspected fraud in local pineapple exports

Published 2024년 6월 18일

Tridge summary

The European Union (EU) has expressed concerns over potential fraud in Ghana's local pineapple exports to Belgium, with suspicions of excess ethephon, a plant growth regulator. The detected level of ethephon exceeded the EU's limit for pineapples by 0.4 mg/kg. This issue is part of the EU's ongoing efforts to combat agri-food fraud, highlighting the importance of adhering to EU standards in international trade. For Ghana, this issue is particularly significant as its pineapple industry is its most developed horticultural sector, contributing over 60% to the country's non-traditional exports revenue and providing around 20,000 jobs. The EU's report also calls out other African countries and western regions for various agri-food fraud offenses. This situation underscores the challenges faced by Ghana's pineapple industry and the broader implications for its export market, especially following a previous EU ban lifted in 2021.

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Original content

By Wisdom JONNY-NUEKPE The European Union (EU) has aired suspicions of fraud in local pineapples exported from Ghana into the European market. In its January 2024 Report on EU Agri-Food Fraud Suspicions, local pineapple exports from the country to Belgium have been alleged to contain an overdose of ethephon. Ethephon is a plant growth regulator used to promote fruit-ripening, coloration, abscission, flower induction and other responses including high yields. Imported pineapples with non-European origins are subject to a legal residue limit. The maximum residue limit for ethephon on pineapples in Europe is 2.0 mg/kg; however, that from Ghana was detected to contain 2.4 mg/kg of the acid. The document explained that the purpose of EU Agri-Food Fraud suspicions’ monthly report is to implement an official regulation which requires the organisation of risk-based controls to identify and combat fraudulent and deceptive practices along agri-food chains in the EU. The report noted that it ...

Source: Thebftonline