Products of non-animal origin that require border control at import

Most products of non-animal origin imported from non-EU countries do not require border control. However, some products of non-animal origin from certain countries are subject to border control because they are subject to what are known as safeguard measures. Here is how to find out what these products are and what documents are required.

What is a safeguard measure?

A safeguard measure is a specific decision taken by the European Commission to protect human or animal health. A safeguard measure applies to certain products from a particular country.

If a particular product of non-animal origin from a specific non-EU country is subject to a safeguard measure, this means that border control is required and specific documents must accompany the consignment.

Help with imports

There are a lot of factors to bear in mind when importing food. There are specialised companies that help businesses import food, called customs agents or freight forwarders. Search the internet for the words “customs agents and imports” to find examples of customs agents or freight forwarders that you can use.

Find out if your food product requires border control

The list of products of non-animal origin that require border control is subject to continuous changes. This may be due to factors such as problems with a particular hazard, such as Salmonella in a particular product of non-animal origin from a specific non-EU country. As an importer, you must therefore always check whether the food you are about to import is on the lists of foods subject to border control. If you as an importer do not find out exactly what applies to imports, there is a risk that your consignment will be rejected. This can be costly.

First, you need to know which product you are importing and the country of origin of the product of non-animal origin. You also need the product's CN code. Contact the “Tullsvar” information service of Swedish Customs, which can be reached via Swedish Customs' switchboard, to find out which CN code applies to your product.

Always start by searching in the overarching regulation on products of non-animal origin. Read how to do this further down on the page.

If your product is not listed in that regulation, see the additional safeguard measures described below.

If you do not find your product from a certain country in any of this legislation, there is no requirement for border control. The import rules of Swedish Customs must always be followed.

The overarching regulation for products of non-animal origin

To find out whether your food product is listed in either of the annexes, go to the regulation and search for the product's country of origin. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + F. If you find your food product with the correct CN code from the country in question, border control is required. In such case, you must pre-notify your consignment with that product on a CHED-D in the TRACES.NT system to the border control post where the consignment first crosses the EU border.

A description of which documents are required is found further down on the page.

Dried, fresh or frozen

Keep in mind that the form of preparation of a food product of non-animal origin has an impact on whether or not it is subject to border control. For example, only dried figs from Turkey – not fresh – are subject to border control. The form of preparation is set out in Annexes I and II.

Border control of rice and rice products from China

Rice and rice products from China may contain genetically modified rice (GMO). Special certificates are therefore required when importing such products.

  • All consignments must be accompanied by a health certificate and an analytical report according to the models attached to the Decision. Consignments without these documents will be rejected.
  • The analytical report must demonstrate that no genetically modified rice is present in the product. The analysis must be carried out according to one of the methods specified in the Decision and by an accredited laboratory.
  • Consignments of concerned products must be pre-notified on CHED-D in the TRACES.NT system to the border control post where the consignment first crosses the EU border. All consignments of rice and rice products from China are sampled at border control.
  • Only when all controls have been completed and no genetically modified rice has been detected can the consignment be placed on the market.
  • All costs for sampling and analysis are invoiced to the importer.

In some cases, may be products included in the specified CN codes that do not contain rice at all. In these cases, the analytical report can be replaced by a declaration from the food business operator responsible for the consignment that confirms that the product does not contain or has not been made from rice. Products that do not contain rice do not need to be pre-notified to a border control post. However, the declaration must be available in writing for controls conducted by your municipal control authority.

Border control of mushrooms and berries following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station

Following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station, border control is required for consignments of berries and mushrooms from Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

  • Consult the Regulation (EU) 2020/1158 to find out whether the product you intend to import is subject to border control. You will need the product's CN code.
  • Annex I to the Regulation lists the non-EU countries concerned.
  • Consignments must be pre-notified on CHED-D in the TRACES.NT system to the border control post where the consignment first crosses the EU border.
  • All consignments of food products covered by the Regulation must be accompanied by a official certificate. The certificate must be drawn up in accordance with the model set out in Annex III of the Regulation. The consignment must also be accompanied by a laboratory report on the presence of radioactive caesium-137. The border control post carries out identity checks and physical checks, including a laboratory analysis on the presence of caesium-137, at a frequency of 20%.
  • Consignments with a gross weight of less than 10 kg of fresh product or 2 kg of dry product are exempted from border control if the consignment is imported as a trade sample, laboratory sample or display item for exhibition, or if it is intended for personal use or for scientific purposes.

Proper documentation

Each consignment of food products subject to border control must be pre-notified on CHED-D in the TRACES.NT system to the border control post where the consignment first crosses the EU border.

Depends on where the food and country are listed

The documents that are required to accompany your consignment and attach to CHED-D in TRACES.NT depend on whether your product is listed in Annex I or Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 2019/1793, or whether your product is listed in other legislation for specific non-EU countries.

The list below shows which documents are required depending on which Annex your product is listed in. The requirements below must be met, or there is a risk that the consignment will be rejected. This will be costly.

Annex I, Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Documents to be attached: Commercial documents, such as packing list, invoice or transport document.

Annex II, Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Documents to be attached: Official certificate (health certificate) and analytical report

The analytical report from an accredited laboratory must be for the specific hazard described for that food product and country.

The official certificate and the analytical report must include an identification code, such as a batch number or other number. The same identification code must also appear on each individual package.

The official certificate must be drawn up in accordance with the model in Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2019/1793. The certificate must be completed and signed by the authority responsible for regulatory control of the establishment before products leave the country.

Annex I, Decision 2011/884/EU Rice and rice products from China

Documents to be attached: Official certificate (health certificate) in accordance with the model in Annex III and analytical report in accordance with the model in Annex IV, indicating GMO-free.

Annex II (berries/mushrooms) and Annex I (list of countries), Regulation (EU) 2020/1158 (Chernobyl)

Documents to be attached: Official certificate (health certificate) according to the model in Annex III and analytical report on the presence of radioactivity.

Reviewed 2024-02-29