New measures include increased audits and a dedicated task force

The European Commission has announced a series of measures aimed at reinforcing controls on food, animal, and plant products imported into the European Union. This initiative, led by Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi, seeks to ensure the highest levels of food safety for EU citizens and maintain a fair competitive environment for EU producers.

Background

The EU is known for having some of the world's strictest food safety, animal health, and plant health regulations. These rules are designed to protect European citizens, agriculture, and the environment from harmful pests and diseases. All imports, including live animals, food, feed, plants, and plant products, must meet the EU's Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) requirements and certain animal welfare standards. Compliance is verified through a robust system of official controls at EU borders and audits in non-EU countries.

New Measures

To enhance these controls, the European Commission plans to increase the number of audits conducted on non-EU countries by 50% over the next two years. Additionally, audits of European Border Control Posts will rise by 33% to ensure member states are performing inspections in accordance with EU requirements. A dedicated EU Task Force will focus on improving the efficiency of import controls, particularly concerning pesticide residues, food and feed safety, and animal welfare.

Market Implications

These strengthened measures are expected to have significant implications for international trade and logistics. Importers will need to ensure compliance with the heightened scrutiny, potentially affecting supply chains and operational costs. The increased frequency of checks and audits may lead to longer processing times at borders, impacting the timely delivery of goods.

Protecting the safety of food consumed in the EU is one of my core responsibilities. Today's measures will further reinforce and modernise our already robust system of official controls, to the benefit of EU citizens, farmers, and companies.

Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare.

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