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
Before you can import a food of animal origin, you need to be sure that the product comes from an authorised country and that the country has an approved residue control plan. The product you want to import must also come from an authorised establishment. You also need to find out what kind of official certificate is needed. All consignments of food of animal origin must be pre-notified in a system called TRACES.NT. Prior notification and booking of border control
Authorised country
In order to import food of animal origin into the EU, the country must be authorised by the European Commission. A country may be authorised to export one or more types of food of animal origin. Before you can start importing, check the lists to see whether the country you want to import from is authorised. You can find lists of authorised countries in EU Regulation 2021/405 and 2021/404. Remember to always check the latest consolidated version. Regulation (EU) 2021/405 - EUR-Lex Regulation (EU) 2021/404 - EUR-Lex
Keep in mind that the requirements for different products may change.
The country must also have an approved residue control plan for the food of animal origin in question. The list of countries with approved residue control plans can be found in Annex -I of Regulation (EU) 2021/405. Regulation (EU) 2021/405 - EUR-Lex
A small number of products are not required to have such a plan. These include wild-caught fishery products, gelatine, collagen and certain highly processed products. The definition of highly processed products can be found in Annex III, Section XVI, point 1 of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004. Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 - EUR-Lex
Authorised establishment
Food of animal origin must also come from an establishment authorised by the European Commission. In the link, you will find which establishments are authorised to import food of animal origin from a specific country. Non-EU countries authorised establishments - EU Commission
Honey and certain highly processed products do not need to come from authorised establishments. Please note that this is about to change. A list of authorised establishments for honey and other apiculture products for human consumption is being established. Import of honey and other apiculture products
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.
Information on the official certificates and models applicable to different food of animal origin can be found in Regulation (EU) 2020/2235. Remember to always check the latest consolidated version. Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 - EUR-Lex
Salmonella guarantees for consignments destined for Sweden or Finland
All consignments of fresh meat, with the exception of heat-treated meat, must have undergone a Salmonella control in the country of origin. Hen eggs are also subject to this requirement. This must be documented in the official certificate of the consignment. Regulation (EU) 1688/2005 - EUR-Lex
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
Trade agreements between the EU and non-EU countries
The EU has concluded agreements with a number of non-EU countries to facilitate trade. Some of these agreements affect the possibility of importing food from the countries concerned. If you intend to import food of animal origin from Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, the Faeroe Islands, Canada, Chile or New Zealand, please follow the link for further information. Trade agreements between the EU and non-EU countries
Transit of EU goods
Internal transit (referred to as T2 transit by Customs) is when consignments of food of animal origin and composite products from one part of the EU are transported to another part of the EU via a third country. One example of this is when consignments from Ireland or Northern Ireland are transported through Great Britain and then arrive in Sweden. In such case, both Ireland and Northern Ireland are considered as EU countries and the goods as EU goods. These consignments must be notified for border control upon re-entry into the European Union. For further information, see the page on Pre-notification and booking of border control. Prior notification and booking of border control
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.
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.
Fishery products imported into the EU must be accompanied by a catch certificate showing that the fish was legally caught. The catch certificate must be sent to the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management via their website. The catch certificate number must be included in the customs declaration. Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is regulated by Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008. Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 - EUR-Lex
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.
The import of products from endangered animals is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, CITES. Caviar from sturgeon is an example of a food product covered by CITES regulations. If you want to import a food subject to CITES regulations, you may need to apply for a CITES certificate. This is supervised by the Swedish Board of Agriculture. Swedish Board of Agriculture on CITES
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.
Subscribe to the latest import news
Subscribe to our food import news service (Nyheter Livsmedelsimport) to receive all news and changes regarding food imports directly. Subscribe to news
