Ioannina is the capital of Epirus, which is the most disadvantaged region in Greece, in spite of its superb natural environment. Up until recently the city did not have the technology required to control the use of plant health products in accordance with European standards, or to control the quality of fresh or processed plant products (in particular to check that pesticide residues in these products complied with European standards). Following a needs assessment in the early nineties, the Ministry of Agriculture and its regional and prefectural departments decided to create a regional phytosanitary protection and quality control centre at Ioannina.