General import conditions

On importation, food of animal origin must fulfil the following import conditions laid down in EU legislation, in general:

• food of animal origin must be produced in accordance with the conditions laid down in EU legislation;
• imports are authorised only from the third countries or regions thereof included in the list of third countries or regions thereof approved to export a specific category of food of animal origin;
• third countries of origin must be listed according to the relevant category in the Annex to Commission Decision 2011/163/EU on the approval of residue monitoring plans submitted by third countries;
• imports of food of animal origin are only authorised from establishments included in the list of establishments approved to export specific categories of food of animal origin to the EU from third countries or regions thereof;
• consignments of food of animal origin must be accompanied by a required health certificate or other document, if so provided for in EU legislation.

The health certificate must correspond to the model certificate laid down in the relevant EU regulation. The certificate is validated by the responsible official veterinarian or official inspector in the exporting third country as provided for in the relevant EU legislation. The health certificate must be made in one or more official languages of the institutions of the Union, understood by the official veterinarian or the official inspector issuing the certificate and, where appropriate, in one of the official languages of the Member State of destination. The certificate accompanies the consignment to the border control post of entry.

The consignment of food of animal origin must be notified in advance of the import via an online information system for ensuring traceability of consignments of products of animal origin - web application TRACES New Technology,TRACES NT. 

Information on imports does not cover cases of emergency safeguard measures taken as a result of a ban on imports following an outbreak of a specific disease or other risks to human health.

Pay attention to possible updates of import conditions as a result of modifications to legislation or certain policies.

Imports through border control posts

Importation of food of animal origin is only allowed through border control posts (BCP) approved for importation.

The arrival of a consignment of food of animal origin to the BCP must be notified in advance by the importer at least one working day before the expected arrival of the consignment (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1013) by means of the required document.