P.M. BRIEFING : Greece Lifts Beef Import Limits

ATHENS — Greece lifted controls today on beef imports in line with its European Community partners, the Trade Ministry said.

The move, effective immediately, followed a 1988 ruling by the European Court and a warning by the EC’s executive Commission that Greece should comply with European Community regulations.

Under the new ruling, wholesale prices for beef products are determined by market forces, with some controls to prevent excessive profits, the statement said.

Importers and wholesalers may now go beyond the previous profit ceiling of 15 drachmas a kilogram, or 4.5 cents a pound. But the government will intervene when profits rise too high. The ministry did not define excessive profits.