Animal and composite products subject to official controls
- Food safety controls
- Official controls
Summary
The European Commission has informed the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) Committee (G/SPS/N/EU/888) that it intends to extend the list of products that must be presented for official controls at border control posts. The additions for agri-food products concern colorant additive E904, nuts and other seeds, and glucose and maltodextrine syrup where these contain products of animal origin. This proposal aims to resolve current ambiguities regarding the need to present these products to border control posts.
EU to update lists of animal products, by-products, and composite products subject to official controls at border control posts
Draft Commission Implementing Regulation amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/632 as regards the lists of products of animal origin, animal by-products and composite products subject to official controls at border control posts
Annex [download]
Update
The European Commission has informed the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) Committee (G/SPS/N/EU/888) that it intends to extend the list of products that must be presented for official controls at border control posts. The additions for agri-food products concern colorant additive E904, nuts and other seeds, and glucose and maltodextrine syrup where these contain products of animal origin. This proposal aims to resolve current ambiguities regarding the need to present these products to border control posts.
Impacted Products
Products of animal origin, animal by-products, and composite products
What is changing?
The European Union (EU) proposes to amend the list of goods for which official controls are required at border control posts (BCPs). Edible products falling under the following customs (CN) codes must be controlled at border control posts when they contain ingredients of animal origin:
- 1301: Colorant additive E904 including shellac of animal origin
- 2008 19: Nuts and other seeds
- 2106 90 55: Glucose and maltodextrine syrup (for example, foaming creamer).
For clarity, the Annex (complete list) to Regulation 2021/632 will be replaced by the Annex of the new Regulation when it is published.
Why?
Certain products of animal origin, animal by-products, and composite products are currently missing from the list of products that should be subject to official controls at border control posts. The changes aim to avoid any ambiguity about which consignments of goods must be presented to border control posts.
Timeline
The Regulation is expected to be adopted and published in January 2026, and will apply 20 days after its publication.
Recommended Actions
Competent authorities of countries that are members of the WTO can submit comments on the EU’s proposal by emailing the EU SPS Enquiry Point until 28 November 2025.
Background
In the framework of the Official Controls Regulation 2017/625, Implementing Regulation 2021/632 establishes lists of animals, products of animal origin, germinal products (semen, ova, and embryos), animal by-products and derived products, composite products, and hay and straw to be presented for official controls at border control posts, with their respective CN codes.
Resources
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products
Sources
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.
EU to update lists of animal products, by-products, and composite products subject to official controls at border control posts
Draft Commission Implementing Regulation amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/632 as regards the lists of products of animal origin, animal by-products and composite products subject to official controls at border control posts
Annex [download]
What is changing and why?
In order to avoid any ambiguity as regards which consignments of goods are subject to official controls at border control posts, the European Commission proposes to include the following CN codes when they contain product of animal origin:
- 1301 Colorant additive E904 including shellac of animal origin
- 2008 19 Nuts and other seeds
- 2106 90 55 Glucose and maltodextrine syrup.
Actions
Competent authorities of countries that are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) can submit comments on the EU’s proposal by emailing the EU SPS Enquiry Point until 28 November 2025.
Timeline
The Regulation is expected to be published in January 2026, and will apply 20 days after its publication.
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.