inspection and testing procedures for imported wheat in march 2005 canada reported that greece had introduced new inspection and testing requirements for imports of grains from third countries in august 2004 that exceeded existing ec requirements by requiring the testing of 100 of shipments. greece had provided no scientific rationale to justify the introduction of these measures and canada considered the greek measures to be inconsistent with the sps agreement. canadas concerns had already been unsuccessfully expressed on numerous occasions to both greek and ec officials including at technical level. the european communities stated that the commission had been in extensive bilateral contacts with both canadian and greek authorities in an effort to find a solution. greece was in the process of adjusting three major aspects of the ministerial decision with the aim of bringing its measure into full compliance with the sps agreement. in particular greek authorities were considering the repeal of the provisions establishing additional quality criteria the re-establishment of the normal ec requirements with regards to testing sampling and inspection procedures and removing any provisions that might be viewed as discriminatory against imported products. in february 2006 canada stated that although the greek authorities had made some useful amendments in late march 2005 the issue had recently deteriorated. canada noted in particular the frequency of inspections the lengthy detention periods of u to two months and greeces requirement for a 1.5 limit on fusarian damaged kernels in grain shipment. in addition in december 2005 greece had required that 100 of a shipment be tested for the presence of gm wheat regardless of the fact that no validated test for the presence of gm wheat existed. canada had unsuccessfully offered to accompany each shipment with a letter certifying the absence of registered gm wheat in canada. these requirements were discriminatory as they only applied to cereals originating outside the european communities. in october 2008 canada again raised the issue of greeces excessive inspection and testing requirements of imported cereals including canadian wheat exports for the presence of genetically modified organisms even though genetically modified wheat is not commercially produced in canada. the issue had been raised for the fourth time and the matter had not been resolved. the european communities stated that although there was harmonization among the ec member states there was a degree of differences in the testing regimes of different countries. the european communities would make every effort to resolve this issue. in february 2009 canada recalled that this concern was mainly related to the excessive inspection and testing requirements for gmos in imported cereals. not only were these requirements onerous but consignments could be held for u to seven working days which unnecessarily imposed additional costs and delays. this was done despite repeated assurances from canada that gm wheat was not approved for commercial production in canada or to the best of canadas knowledge anywhere in the world. this measure was clearly discouraging imports of cereals from non-ec countries and was having an adverse effect on trade. canada considered these measures to be contrary to greeces obligations under the sps agreement. greece had not given any indication of its willingness to make further progress in resolving this issue although canada had raised the issue bilaterally several times with greece and with the european communities. in september 2008 canadas ambassador to greece had requested a meeting with the former greek minister of rural development and food but had received no response. an early meeting with the new minister of rural development and food has been requested with the hope of resolving this longstanding issue given that this remains a serious concern for the government of canada. the representative o