EC cracks down on Iranian pistachios

10 September 1997

EC cracks down on Iranian pistachios

The European Commission banned imports of Iranian pistachio nuts until
December 1. Inspectors discovered batches with aflatoxin B1 which can
cause cancer. Humid storage conditions are thought to be to blame.

The Commission and the Iranian authorities will attempt to resolve the
problem over the next three months. The European Union imported $14m of the nuts from Iran last year.