Crete olive oil producers report illegal importation and rebranding

Producers and political representatives in Crete are raising alarms regarding the illegal importation and “Hellenization” of large quantities of olive oil. Prodoromos Afthonidis, president of the Association of Olive Oil Producers of Heraklion Prefecture, has reported that imported oil is being rebranded as Greek to create unfair market competition.

In response to these allegations, Member of Parliament Fragiskos Parasiris has submitted a parliamentary question to the Ministry of Rural Development and Food. He is calling for urgent preventive and repressive measures to protect local producers before the start of the new olive harvesting season. Parasiris highlighted that the sector is facing a crisis driven by these illegal circuits, high production costs, and the impacts of the climate crisis.

The calls for action include increased inspections by regulatory bodies to dismantle fraud networks, accountability for sanctions imposed on violators, and a holistic support plan to educate consumers and producers on oil quality and proper maintenance.