Countries authorised to export animals and animal products to the EU: public health list 2025 update
- Third country lists
- Food safety controls
Summary
On 24 February 2024, the European Union updated the public health list of countries authorised to export animals and animal products to the EU. The following countries have been added to the list in relation to certain animal products, regarding:
- residues (Annex -I): Brazil (for eggs), Kazakhstan (honey), Thailand (eggs)
- food safety (Annex IX): Armenia (approved to export aquaculture products due to meeting EU safety standards).
The following countries have been delisted regarding residues (Annex -I) for:
- composite products: Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Honduras, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Tunisia (composite products containing milk or eggs)
- farmed crustaceans: Tanzania.
European Commission updates the list of countries that can export animal products to EU. Affected countries: Armenia, Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/354 of 21 February 2025 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 as regards the lists of third countries with an approved control plan and the lists of third countries authorised for the entry into the Union of certain fishery products
Update
On 24 February 2024, the European Union updated the public health list of countries authorised to export animals and animal products to the EU. The following countries have been added to the list in relation to certain animal products, regarding:
- residues (Annex -I): Brazil (for eggs), Kazakhstan (honey), Thailand (eggs)
- food safety (Annex IX): Armenia (approved to export aquaculture products due to meeting EU safety standards).
The following countries have been delisted regarding residues (Annex -I) for:
- composite products: Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Honduras, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Tunisia (composite products containing milk or eggs)
- farmed crustaceans: Tanzania.
Impacted Products
Aquaculture products, composite products, crustaceans, eggs, finfish, milk, honey
What is changing?
This new Regulation updates the list of countries authorised to export to the EU as regards public health.
Authorisation process
- To export certain animal products to the EU, countries must have a residue control plan validated by the European Commission.
- Authorised countries are listed in Annex -I of Regulation 2021/405.
Countries being added
The following countries are added to the list (Annex -I):
- Brazil: for exporting eggs.
- Kazakhstan: for exporting honey.
- Thailand: for exporting eggs.
Countries being removed
The following countries are removed from the list (Annex -I) for various reasons:
- Belize, Cuba, Honduras, Nigeria, and Tunisia: for exporting composite products containing milk and egg ingredients (that are imported from the EU or other approved/listed non-EU countries). The removed countries have not guaranteed the traceability of imported milk and egg ingredients in composite products.
- Costa Rica: for composite products containing milk or eggs, after informing the European Commission there is no intention to export these products.
- Tanzania: for exporting farmed crustaceans. No residue plan has been implemented as the country no longer produces such products. Tanzania is also being removed for composite products containing milk and egg ingredients.
New additions for aquaculture (fish)
- Armenia: as Armenia has demonstrated that its food safety systems meet EU requirements, it is added to the list of countries allowed to export aquaculture: finfish and finfish products (caviar and roes) (Annex IX of Regulation 2021/405).
Other countries also covered by the Regulation that are outside the remit of the AGRINFO programme are not included in this summary.
Why?
The EU updates its list of authorised non-EU countries once or twice a year. Authorised countries must have food safety systems and residue control plans (for pesticides, contaminants, and veterinary medicines) that are at least equivalent to and as strict as those within the EU.
To remain approved, non-EU countries must send their updated residue control plan for each animal product category every year by 31 March.
Timeline
The Regulation applies from 16 March 2025.
What are the major implications for exporting countries?
From 16 March 2025, Armenia can export its aquaculture finfish, caviar, and roes; and Kazakhstan can export honey to the EU.
Tanzania can no longer export farmed crustaceans to the EU.
Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Honduras, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Tunisia can no longer export composite products containing milk or eggs.
Recommended Actions
Competent authorities
For competent authorities of countries exporting food-producing animals and products of animal origin to the EU:
If already listed
- Ensure compliance is maintained for public health (2021/405, Annexes I–XVI), residues (2021/405, Annex -I), animal health when relevant (2021/404).
- In particular for the list dealing with residues, produce an updated control plan by 31 March of each year.
The EU regularly audits partner countries and EU Member States. The work programme and reports are published on the Health and Food Audits and Analysis webpage.
If delisted or not yet listed
- Start the procedure for recognition of the country’s public health requirements as soon as possible.
Competent authorities of partner countries may raise questions to SANTE-CONSULT-A5@ec.europa.eu or, if specifically on residues, to sante-tcresidueplans@ec.europa.eu.
Exporters
For operators in non-EU countries wishing to export food-producing animals and products of animal origin to the EU:
- inform the competent authority of your interest
- stay in regular contact with the competent authority to support the process
- follow the procedure to be included in the list of approved establishments (see Approval of third country establishments explained).
Background
The EU has stringent rules on the public health requirements for products of animal origin entering the European Union.
The Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625 lays down the framework for the official controls that competent authorities have to perform at any stage of production, processing, and distribution.
Regulation (EU) 2022/2292 supplements the Official Controls Regulation regarding the public health requirements for exports to the EU. Countries wishing to export animal products to the EU must comply with the EU public health requirements.
Non-EU exporting countries must be authorised under Regulation 2021/405 for each commodity to be exported to the EU (Annex -I for control plans; other Annexes for food safety where relevant).
Exporting countries must also comply with the animal health requirements, and for most animal products they must be listed in Regulation (EU) 2021/404.
Around mid-2026, non-EU countries will also need to be listed regarding their compliance with rules on antimicrobials: see List of non-EU countries compliant with new EU antimicrobial requirements.
Resources
Online resources from the European Commission:
- EU entry conditions
- Guidelines on EU requirements for entry of animals and products of animal origin
- Establishment Lists
- Products of animal origin for human consumption
- Welcome to Access2Markets to Trade Helpdesk users
The procedure for non-EU countries to apply for listing is described at the end of the following factsheets:
Sources
Commission Implementing Regulation 2025/354 as regards the lists of third countries with an approved control plan and the lists of third countries authorised for the entry into the Union of certain fishery products
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.
European Commission updates the list of countries that can export animal products to EU. Affected countries: Armenia, Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia
Commission Implementing Regulation 2025/354 as regards the lists of third countries with an approved control plan and the lists of third countries authorised for the entry into the Union of certain fishery products
What is changing and why?
This Regulation updates the list of countries that have in place adequate public health systems to allow the export of certain animal products to the European Union.
Key changes involving AGRINFO partner countries:
Countries gaining export authorisation:
- Armenia, for the export of finfish, caviar, and roes
- Brazil, for eggs
- Kazakhstan, for honey
- Thailand, for eggs
Countries losing export approval:
- Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Honduras, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Tunisia for the export of composite products containing processed milk or eggs
- Tanzania, for farmed crustaceans and composite products containing milk or eggs
These changes are based on requests by non-EU countries and the guarantees they have provided to demonstrate that their exported animal products are produced in compliance with EU rules.
Actions
In order to remain listed, each year, by 31 March, non-EU countries exporting animal products to the EU must submit an updated control plan demonstrating that animal products comply with the EU rules on residues of veterinary drugs, contaminants, and pesticides.
They also must ensure compliance is maintained in order to remain listed in relation to public health and, when relevant, animal health.
Timeline
The Regulation applies from 16 March 2025.
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.