Import from countries outside the EU - food of animal origin

To prevent contagious animal diseases or unsafe food from non-EU-countries from entering the EU, there are rules of import to be followed. When importing food of animal origin such as meat, fish, milk, eggs, or honey from a non-EU-country into the EU, the goods must be controlled at the EU border.

Before importing food of animal origin

Before you can start to import a food of animal origin, you need to make sure that the product originates from an approved country and an approved establishment for export of the specific food category to EU. You need to check which model of official certificate is applicable for the specific food of animal origin, and this certificate must be signed by the competent authority of the exporting establishment before the consignment is exported. All consignments containing food of animal origin must be pre-notified in advance in the system called TRACES.NT.

Approved country

Countries outside the EU have to be approved by the EU Commission to be able to export consignments containing food of animal origin to the EU. Before you start to import food of animal origin, you need to check that the food comes from a country that has been approved for export to the EU of that particular food of animal origin. The exporting country must also have an approved residue control plan for antibiotics, etc.

You need to check the list of approved countries in regulation 2021/405 or regulation 2021/404, depending on what the food of animal origin is. You then need to check that the exporting country has an approved residue control plan for antibiotics, etc. in the annex of decision 2011/163.

Approved establishment

Official certificate

Salmonella testing for consignments destined for Sweden or Finland

Prior notification

Border control posts

Fees

The basic charge for border control of a consignment containing foods of animal origin is 1150 SEK + 0.18 SEK per kg. Fees are higher if the inspection is carried out outside regular office hours. Sampling and analyses based on safeguard measures or suspicion of irregularities are carried out at the expense of the importer.

Safeguard measures

Imports of food of animal origin for private use

Commercial samples

Reviewed 2023-05-17