Table of Contents
1. Regulations and Policies
1.1 Trade Regulations and Policies
1.1.1 Principal Authority Governing Trade
1.1.2 Trade Regulations
1.1.3 Relevant Provisions on Trade Administration
1.1.4 Inspection and Quarantine of Imported and Exported Commodities
1.1.5 Customs Administration Rules and Regulations
1.1 Trade Regulations and Policies
1.1.1 Principal Authority Governing Trade
The departments responsible for trade in the Greek Governmentare comprised of two entities: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Development. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs oversees international economic cooperation, with the B5 Division specifically responsible for economic and trade relations with China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established the Enterprise Greece, which is tasked with promoting Greece internationally, attracting foreign investment, and facilitating exports. The Ministry of Development is responsible for national strategic planning and industrial affairs, and it undertakes the macro-management of foreign trade in accordance with European Union (EU) laws and regulations.
1.1.2 Trade Regulations
As a member state of the EU, Greece's foreign trade policies are uniformly established by the EU. Member states are authorized to implement only the EU's foreign trade policies or trade measures explicitly approved by the EU. The free movement of goods and services between Greece and other EU member states, as well as trade with non-EU countries, is governed by the EU's unified trade policy.
[Specific Policies]
| Name (in Chinese) |
Name (in English) |
Content |
Reference Website |
| 《共同关税税则》 |
Common Customs Tariff, Council Regulation 2658/87 |
Sets out the tariff regulations applicable to trade between EU member states and non-EU countries |
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A01987R2658-20210101 |
| 《欧洲共同体综合税则》 |
Integrated Tariff of the European Communities (TARIC) |
Encompasses the trade measures currently implemented by the EU, such as preferential tariff rates, tariff quotas, anti-dumping, and countervailing measures |
https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/calculation- customs-duties/customs- tariff/eu-customs-tariff- taric_en |
| 单边税收减免 |
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) |
The Generalized System of Preferences Granted by the EU to Developing Countries ── GSP |
|
| 双边贸易协定及自由贸易协定 |
Free Trade Agreements |
Agreements concluded between the EU and another country (or region) or a multinational group to eliminate or reduce various trade and investment restrictions. |
|
1.1.3 Relevant Provisions on Trade Administration
Greece adopts the EU's unified tariff rates and management system, implementing the EU common trade policy in accordance with relevant provisions such as EU Regulation (EU) No. 952/2013 Establishing the Union Customs Code.
[Import Management] Greece enforces the EU Regulation (EU) 2015/478 on Common Rules for Imports and Regulation (EU)2015/755 on Common Rules for Imports from Certain Third Countries, implementing import quotas, import licenses, and import registration for relevant imported products.
[Export Restrictions] Greece implements the EU Regulation (EU) 2015/479 on Common Rules for Exports, Regulation (EC) 116/2009 on the Export of Cultural Goods, and others, to regulate the export of certain products.
The relevant regulations can be inquired at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu
1.1.4 Inspection and Quarantine of Imported and Exported Commodities
[Technical Regulations] The EU establishes technical regulations for most products. Commodities not covered under these regulations are subject to technical regulations established by the individual member states. For electronic and electrical products, energy-related products, communication equipment, machinery, toys, medical devices, among others, the EU's import inspection primarily relies on suppliers' "Declaration of Conformity". For high-risk products, suppliers are required to undergo a "conformity assessment" by a third-party body authorized by the member state.
The EU regulates certain safety-related industrial products through safety certification, specifically by affixing CE markings. CE certification is the cornerstone of the EU conformity assessment system and is regarded as a passport for manufacturers to access and enter the European market. Currently, over 30% of industrial products, including computers, toys, and electrical equipment, are required to bear the CE mark.
[Inspection and Quarantine of Animal and Plant Products] The EU's inspection and quarantine measures for animal and plant products are primarily outlined in the General Principles and Requirements of Food Law (Regulation No. 178/2002) as well as Regulations No. 852/2004, 853/2004, and 854/2004 related to food hygiene. Decree No. 178/2002 primarily sets forth the general principles and requirements of food law, establishes the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and outlines procedures for food safety matters, constituting another significant EU regulation. Legislative Decree No. 178/2002 consists of 65 articles in 5 chapters, which stipulate and describe the scope of application and definitions of the law, the general provisions of food law, the European Food Safety Authority, the Rapid Alert System and Risk Management, as well as related procedures and other provisions. EU member state importers are only permitted to import animals, plants, and related products from pre-approved countries and territories.
The relevant regulations can be inquired at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu
[Agricultural Product Inspection] In accordance with EU requirements, Greece enforces stringent standards for the identification and labeling of imported agricultural products. Packaging of imported agricultural products must clearly display, in English or Greek, the country of origin, producer’s name, contact address, telephone number, detailed product description, and either the weight (or quantity and unit weight) of the packaged goods.
The formulation, inspection, and enforcement of sanitary standards for planted agricultural products in Greece are managed by the Department of Standardization and Quality Control for Processing of Agricultural Products for Planting within the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Food. Each customs office in Greece houses product inspection laboratories under the jurisdiction of this department, which are responsible for conducting sanitary inspections and quarantine measures on imported agricultural products.
The European Commission promulgated Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on Organic Production and Labelling of Organic Products on June 14, 2018, which came into force on January 1, 2021. The primary provisions of this regulation encompass the general principles of organic production; specific principles applicable to agricultural activities and aquaculture; specific principles applicable to the processing of organic foods; prohibition of genetically modified organisms; principles of processed food production; principles of wine production; principles of yeast production for use as food or feed; product collection, packaging, transportation, and storage; mandatory labeling information; the EU organic production mark; regulations pertaining to the export of organic products; and the governing authorities for the importation of organic and organic products.
For reference, the above-mentioned regulations can be accessed at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/848/oj
[Livestock Product Inspection] In Greece, the Department of Animal Health Standards within the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food is responsible for the formulation, inspection, and enforcement of health and quarantine standards for livestock products. The procedures for inspection and quarantine of imported livestock products resemble those applied to agricultural product inspections.
1.1.5 Customs Administration Rules and Regulations
(1) Greece's customs management system is aligned with that of the EU, implementing the Union Customs Code Regulation (EU) 952/2013. The Code clarifies the rules and procedures for trade between EU member states and non-EU countries, stipulates the rights and obligations of relevant parties, and encompasses fundamental issues of import and export, such as tariffs, customs valuation, commodity classification, rules of origin, warehousing, transit, processing, etc. The relevant regulations can be inquired at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu
(2) Data from the World Trade Organization (WTO) show that in 2023, the average tariff rate imposed by the EU on imports from outside the Union is 5.1%, with non-agricultural products averaging a tariff rate of 4.1% and agricultural products averaging 11.2%. Tariffs on agricultural products are generally high and predominantly non-ad valorem.
For reference to the above-mentioned regulations, please visit: https://stats.wto.org/
Table 5-1 Most-Favored Nation Tariff Rates for Import of Main EU Products
(Unit: %)
| Product Category |
Average Tax Rate |
| Animal products |
17.5 |
| Milk products |
38.4 |
| Fruits, vegetables, and plants |
10.1 |
| Coffee and tea |
5.9 |
| Grains |
13.7 |
| Oils and fats |
6.8 |
| Sugar |
24.6 |
| Tobacco |
16.6 |
| Cotton |
0.0 |
| Other agricultural products |
3.1 |
| Aquatic products |
11.5 |
| Minerals and metals |
2 |
| Petroleum |
4.7 |
| Chemicals |
4.5 |
| Wood and paper |
1.1 |
| Textiles |
8.0 |
| Garments |
11.5 |
| Leather and footwear |
4.1 |
| Machinery |
1.8 |
| Electrical appliances |
2 |
| Means of transportation |
5.9 |
| Other manufacturing products |
2 |
Source: Official website of WTO: https:/www.wto.org//
As the import tax rates of certain EU products are subject to frequent changes, if you need to inquire about the tariff rate for a specific time and specific product, please visit the TARIC inquiry system of the European Commission's Taxation and Customs Union:
https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/customs-4/calculation-customs-duties/customs- tariff/eu-customs-tariff-taric_en
On this website, by entering the customs code of the goods, the tariff rate and other relevant information such as tariff quotas, quantitative restrictions, tariff suspensions, anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties, agricultural taxes, regulatory conditions, etc., will be displayed. TARIC does not include information on value-added tax (VAT) or excise duties.
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China. The Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China version shall prevail.