BRAZILIAN PEPPER UNDER STRICT WATCH IN EU

 

Brazil pepper regulated in the EU

The frequency of import controls for salmonella in black pepper from Brazil (neither crushed nor ground) has been increased from 20% to 50% by Regulation (EU) No 2021/608 with effect from 21 April 2021.

In recital 7 of the Regulation, the EU Commission provides the following justification for increasing the frequency of controls:

“In particular, due to the high frequency of non-compliance with the relevant requirements provided for in Union legislation with respect to contamination by Salmonella detected during official controls performed by Member States in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 in 2019 and in the first semester of 2020 and due to the high number of notifications in the RASFF during that period, it is appropriate to increase, from 20 % to 50 %, the frequency of identity and physical checks to be performed on black pepper (Piper nigrum) from Brazil.“