Import from countries outside the EU - food of animal origin
To prevent infectious animal diseases or unsafe food from entering the EU, there are rules for importing food from outside the EU.
This page explains the requirements for importing food of animal origin, such as meat, fish, milk, eggs and honey.
What is food of animal origin?
Food of animal origin is food that comes from the animal kingdom. Examples include meat, fish, eggs and dairy products such as milk and yoghurt. Honey is also considered a food of animal origin. The products can be either raw or processed. There are several risks associated with food of animal origin, which is why they are always checked at the border when imported from countries outside the EU.
To find out what is required to import a particular food, you need to know:
- Which product you intend to import
- From which country you intend to import
Importing food of animal origin
Authorised country
Keep in mind that the requirements for different products may change.
Approved residue control plan
Authorised establishment
Official certificate
Each consignment of food of animal origin must be accompanied by an official certificate with the appropriate model for the category being imported. The official certificate must be issued by the competent control authority at the establishment you are importing from.
The official certificate must be issued and signed by the competent authority before the export. Failure to do so is grounds for rejection when the consignment arrives in Sweden. This means that the goods you are attempting to import may not be brought into Sweden. In such a case, you can choose between returning them to the country of origin, returning them to another country outside the EU or destruction, i.e. having the products destroyed. Other measures may also apply; see Article 66(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625.
Salmonella guarantees for consignments destined for Sweden or Finland
Safeguard measures and import bans for certain food of animal origin
Food of animal origin imported into Sweden from countries outside the EU must be checked at the border.
- Certain foods of animal origin are subject to what are known as safeguard measures, such as special requirements for the certificate. Read more about which products this concerns
- Certain foods of animal origin are banned from import under EU law
Trade agreements between the EU and non-EU countries
Transit of EU goods
Commercial samples
Under EU Regulation 2019/2122, samples of food of animal origin and of composite products that are not to be placed on the market and that are to undergo product analysis and quality testing, including flavour testing, may be exempted from border control requirements. To be exempted, an authorisation for the introduction into the Union must be issued by the Swedish Food Agency's border control. Each individual consignment of samples must have such an authorisation.
If samples destined for Sweden are to be imported via a border control post in another EU country, the completed form must be sent to gks@slv.se. The authorisation must then be presented at the border control post of entry into the EU.
Please note that if the sample is to be placed on the market, for example given as a free sample at a trade fair, it must undergo border control as with a normal import, regardless of the quantity.
Import of food of animal origin for private use
With the exception of products containing meat and milk, individuals are allowed to bring into Sweden food of animal origin in limited quantities for personal use in their own luggage or by post. The EU has rules for this. One of the reasons for the strict rules is that Member States want to minimise the risk of different types of infectious diseases entering the EU. Please visit the Swedish Board of Agriculture's website to see which products this concerns and what restrictions are in place.
Special certificates for wild-caught fish
Special requirements concerning endangered species – CITES regulations
Import consignments may also need to be checked by other authorities. One such example is the Swedish Board of Agriculture, which handles border controls related to CITES regulations.
Swedish Customs
Once you have an approved CHED-P decision from border control, you can contact Swedish Customs to have the consignment cleared for free circulation within the EU.
