Chinese garlic smuggling probed by OLAF

European Union (EU) anti-fraud unit OLAF is investigating garlic smuggling by Chinese suppliers, with low production costs and high EU duties generating high illegal profits. OLAF claims €60 million in duties are being lost, with only meat (of all kinds) and sugar subject to more food fraud inquiries – 17 into garlic are ongoing. Scams uncovered include shipping garlic with fake declarations of origin via Jordan, Russia, Serbia/Montenegro and Turkey as well as misdeclarations of fresh garlic as dried or frozen for which lower duties apply.