Ministerial Decree No. 1100/87 codifying the provisions of the Food Code.

The Food and Drinks Code lays down general, special and particularly detailed regulations with regard to the specifications of safety and hygiene of almost all of the types of foodstuffs and beverages that are placed on the market. It contains extensive regulations on each category of foods and beverages, i.e. milk, bread, flours products, alcoholic drinks etc. and establishes the methods of food production and process. The general provisions contained in the Code concern, with no exceptions, all types of foodstuffs, even those which are not specifically reported in it (art. 1). The Code is the basic legislative text determining the specifications of safety in the sector of production, treatment, labelling and placing on the market of food and beverages, providing thus a useful tool to assess the progress of the Greek legislation in the field of consumer protection. The text of the Code is supplemented and amended constantly according to the decisions of the Supreme Chemical Council of the State, which is the competent authority for keeping up to date the Code, and the relative presidential and ministerial decrees. Pursuant to these decrees, the Greek legislation is being harmonized with the corresponding Community directives. The infringement of the provisions of the Food Code implies at all times penal sanctions (article 281 of the Penal Code or articles 30, 31, 32 and 33 of the Market Code).
The Food Code is composed by 151 articles, divided into sixteen chapters as follows: Chapter I: General provisions (art. 1-20); Chapter II: Materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs (art. 21-28); Chapter III: Food additives (art. 29-36); Chapter IV: Flavouring substances and preparations Essential oils (art. 37-46); Chapter V: Coffee - Tea - Cocoa and products deriving thereof (art. 47-60); Chapter VI: Preserved foodstuffs (art. 61-62); Chapter VII: Food sweeteners (art. 63-69); Chapter VIII: Edible fats and oils (art. 70-78); Chapter IX. Milk, eggs and products deriving thereof (art. 79-87); Chapter X: Meat and meat products (art. 88-91); Chapter XI: Fish and fish products (art. 92-99); Chapter XII: Cereals and products deriving thereof (art. 100-117); Chapter XIII: foodstuffs of vegetal origin (art. 118-130); Chapter XIV: food products containing sweeteners (art. 131-142); Chapter XV: Beverages (art. 143-150); Chapter XVI: Transitional provisions (art. 151).