European Union

Regulatory bloc · Strong coverage · Compiled 2026-07-05

65 screening rules

Labeling: 28 rules — 24 blocking, 3 conditional, 1 advisory
Additives: 8 rules — 6 blocking, 0 conditional, 2 advisory
Contaminants & residue limits: 17 rules — 16 blocking, 0 conditional, 1 advisory
Import & registration: 12 rules — 6 blocking, 6 conditional, 0 advisory

Market profile

Main food law: Reg 178/2002 General Food Law
Labeling regulation: Reg 1169/2011 FIC
Additives and residue limits: Reg 1333/2008 + Reg 2023/915
Import requirements: Reg 2017/625 Official Controls
National standards body: CEN/national bodies — n/a
Latest USDA FAIRS report: 2024

Certificates required

Health certificate (food export, fit for human consumption) — Mandatory (Applies to: Composite products, food of non-animal origin under Reg. 2019/1793 (e.g. aflatoxin-risk nuts, spices))
Veterinary health certificate (products of animal origin) — Mandatory (Applies to: Products of animal origin from EU-listed countries & establishments)
Phytosanitary certificate (IPPC / ePhyto) — Mandatory (Applies to: Plants & plant products listed in Reg. 2019/2072)
EU TRACES CHED (Common Health Entry Document) — Mandatory (Applies to: Animals, POAO, FNAO under increased checks, plants)
EU organic certificate (Reg. (EU) 2018/848) & e-COI — Mandatory (Applies to: Products labelled organic)
EUR.1 / EUR-MED movement certificate — Mandatory (Applies to: Goods claiming FTA preference)
GSP Form A / REX statement on origin — Mandatory (Applies to: GSP beneficiary goods claiming preference)
Certificate of analysis (CoA) — Commonly requested (Applies to: Products under increased official controls (aflatoxin, pesticides, ethylene oxide))
BRCGS Food Safety — Commonly requested (Applies to: Retail private label)
IFS Food — Commonly requested (Applies to: German/French/Italian retail)
FSSC 22000 — Commonly requested (Applies to: Manufacturers & ingredients)
GLOBALG.A.P. IFA — Commonly requested (Applies to: Fresh produce & aquaculture)
Rainforest Alliance certificate — Commonly requested (Applies to: Cocoa, coffee, tea, bananas)
Fairtrade certificate — Commonly requested (Applies to: Coffee, cocoa, bananas, sugar)
MSC Chain of Custody (and fishery) certificate — Commonly requested (Applies to: Wild seafood)
ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) — Commonly requested (Applies to: Farmed seafood)
SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) — Commonly requested (Applies to: Retail suppliers)
V-Label (vegan/vegetarian) — Commonly requested (Applies to: Vegan/vegetarian claims)

Import and export

There are no verified import or export documents for this market yet.

Customs duties are not included.

Official sources

Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 — General Food Law (consolidated 2026-01-01) (2002) Open the source
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 — Food Information to Consumers (consolidated 2025-04-01) (2011) Open the source
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 — Food Additives (consolidated 2026-02-18, incl. Annex II union list) (2008) Open the source
Regulation (EU) 2023/915 — Maximum Levels for Contaminants in Food (consolidated 2025-10-08) (2023) Open the source
Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 — Hygiene of Foodstuffs (consolidated 2021-03-24) (2004) Open the source
Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 — Hygiene Rules for Food of Animal Origin (consolidated 2026-01-27) (2004) Open the source
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 — Official Controls (consolidated 2025-01-05) (2017) Open the source
Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 — Food Contact Materials (consolidated 2021-03-27) (2004) Open the source
Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 — Novel Foods (2015) Open the source
Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 — Pesticide MRLs in Food and Feed (2005) Open the source
Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 — GM Food and Feed (2003) Open the source
Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 — Nutrition and Health Claims (2006) Open the source
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 — Model Official Certificates (animal-origin/composite imports) (2020) Open the source
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/630 — Composite Products Exempt from Border Controls (2021) Open the source
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/775 — Origin of the Primary Ingredient (Art 26(3) FIC) (2018) Open the source
EU Food Additives Database (Annex II Reg 1333/2008, searchable) (2026) Open the source
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 — Temporary Increase of Controls on Certain High-Risk Non-Animal Foods (2019) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Country Report Annual — European Union (2024) (2024) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Export Certificate Report — European Union (2025) (2025) Open the source

Reference documents

Regulation (EU) 2023/915 — Maximum levels for contaminants (2023) Open the source
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 — Official controls (2017) Open the source
Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 — Food information to consumers (2011) Open the source
Regulation (EC) 1333/2008 — Food additives (2008) Open the source
Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 — Food contact materials (2004) Open the source
Regulation (EC) 852/2004 — Hygiene of foodstuffs (2004) Open the source
Regulation (EC) 853/2004 — Hygiene of food of animal origin (2004) Open the source
Regulation (EC) 178/2002 — General Food Law (2002) Open the source

Guidance compiled from published sources — not legal clearance. Confirm the requirements with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.

Screening guidance based on published standards — not legal clearance. Requirements marked "needs verification" are directional hints; confirm with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.