EU Health and food audits and analysis programme 2025
- Animal health
- Food safety
- Official controls
- Plant health
Summary
The European Commission conducts regular "controls" (audits and remote assessments) of EU Member States and non-EU countries to ensure the highest standards of food safety and regulatory compliance of goods put on the EU market.
This AGRINFO report highlights audits planned for 2025 in non-EU countries, including Albania, Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Mauritania, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, Serbia, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Vietnam. In addition, remote assessments via questionnaires will take place for a few additional countries (including four AGRINFO partner countries). Other countries may be added throughout the year.
Programme of EU controls planned for 2025
European Union Health and food audits and analysis programme 2025
Update
The European Commission conducts regular "controls" (audits and remote assessments) of EU Member States and non-EU countries to ensure the highest standards of food safety and regulatory compliance of goods put on the EU market.
This AGRINFO report highlights audits planned for 2025 in non-EU countries, including Albania, Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Mauritania, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, Serbia, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Vietnam. In addition, remote assessments via questionnaires will take place for a few additional countries (including four AGRINFO partner countries). Other countries may be added throughout the year.
Impacted Products
All
What is changing?
The European Commission performs "controls" (audits and remote assessments) of EU Member States and non-EU countries to ensure they have systems in place to guarantee that food put on the EU market meets EU rules for food safety and plant and animal health. Of the 209 controls planned for 2025 in the agri-food chain, 62% are planned in EU Member States and 38% are planned in non-EU countries wishing to export, or already exporting, to the EU.
The Commission has published the following programme for 2025.
Audits
The following audits of non-EU countries are planned, each focusing on specific sectors/topics:
- Albania – microbiological safety of plant-based food
- Argentina – safety of poultry products
- Botswana – export to the EU (citrus/Thaumatotibia leucotreta – false codling moth)
- Brazil – microbiological safety of plant-based food
- China – safety of poultry meat products and rabbit meat
- Ecuador – safety of fishery products; residues of pharmacologically active substances, pesticides, and contaminants in animals and animal products
- Egypt – pesticide residue controls in plant-based food
- Guatemala – export to the EU (Calibrachoa and Petunia – plants for planting)
- India – export to the EU (Tephritidae fruit flies)
- Kenya – export to the EU (cut flowers/T. leucotreta – false codling moth)
- Mauritania – safety of fishery products
- Morocco – residues of pharmacologically active substances, pesticides, and contaminants in food of animal origin
- Pakistan – safety of fishery products
- Philippines – residues of pharmacologically active substances, pesticides, and contaminants in food of animal origin
- Serbia – safety of beef, pork, and poultry
- Thailand – residues of pharmacologically active substances, pesticides, and contaminants in food of animal origin
- Türkiye – food of non-animal origin: pesticide residues; food of animal origin: residues of pharmacologically active substances, pesticides, and contaminants
- Ukraine – food of animal origin: residues of pharmacologically active substances, pesticides, and contaminants
- Vietnam – pesticide residues in plant-based food.
How are audits conducted?
An audit typically involves two auditors. They first send pre-audit questionnaires to the competent authorities and analyse the responses. The audit team then meets with national, regional, and local authorities, as well as carrying out visits to relevant sites to see how the competent authority controls are implemented. The Commission issues a report after each audit, which may include recommendations to the competent authority to address any systemic or significant non-compliances that have been identified.
Remote assessments
The following remote assessments of non-EU countries are planned, each focusing on specific sectors/topics (six additional sectors/topics still to be determined):
- Albania – fishery products (remote assessment)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina – fishery products (remote assessment)
- Moldova – fishery products (remote assessment)
- Montenegro – animal health; plant health and pesticides; food; import controls (assessment in the frame of the EU enlargement)
- Ukraine – fishery products.
How are remote assessments conducted?
Desk-based audits, called “remote assessments”, are based on comprehensive questionnaires. These remote assessments check that official controls carried out by the competent authorities of listed non-EU countries are appropriate to verify the compliance of exported animals and foods with EU requirements. They also check whether the authorities reliably certify compliance with those requirements when signing official certificates.
All residue control plans of non-EU countries must be checked at least once every 5 years. The current 5-year cycle ends in 2025, so non-EU countries that have not yet been checked can expect remote assessments this year.
Lists of control activities to be conducted in 2025 are set out in the following Annexes to the Health and food audits and analysis programme 2025:
- Annex 1: Multi-annual plan 2021–2025 and controls planned in 2025
- Annex 3: Controls in candidate countries/potential candidates planned in 2025
- Annex 4: Controls in third countries planned in 2025.
Why?
Control systems in EU Member States, and in non-EU countries, are continually monitored to guarantee effective enforcement of EU food safety and plant and animal health requirements.
Timeline
This programme highlights the audits and remote assessments planned for 2025.
What are the major implications for exporting countries?
A negative outcome of an audit or remote assessment performed by the Commission in a non-EU country may result in the imposition of trade-restrictive measures. This is to protect European consumers and/or animal and plant health, as well as to encourage competent authorities and food business operators to take action and implement any necessary corrective measures quickly. Examples of trade restrictive measures include increased checks at EU borders and, as a last resort, suspension of imports. The Commission reviews such measures periodically.
Recommended Actions
EU audits are greatly facilitated when exporting countries provide comprehensive responses to questionnaires (including for remote assessments), and when they prepare for an audit with detailed and organised records. This involves documenting all procedures, controls, and corrective actions that are taken to align with EU requirements. EU auditors require accessible evidence of system improvements, training logs, health and safety checks, and traceability systems. Conducting regular internal reviews and updating compliance strategies helps to demonstrate ongoing adherence to EU requirements.
Background
Article 120 of Regulation 2017/625 allows the European Commission to perform audits and remote assessments in non-EU countries (see Official Controls Regulation – explained). These play a central role in the decision on whether or not to include a non-EU country in the list of countries permitted to export animals and animal products to the EU. The audits and assessments also allow the EU to check the systems in place in non-EU countries that export food, feed, animals, or plants to the EU.
The Commission targets countries according to the level of risk associated with their exports; this considers the volume of exports, non-compliant consignments identified at EU points of entry, and higher levels of risk associated with particular types of food, feed, animals, or plants.
These audits are also opportunities to foster international cooperation, share best practice, and encourage continuous improvement in global food safety standards.
Resources
Videos (FR–SP) on audit preparation; reporting & monitoring and how recommendations are addressed – various languages available.
Overview Reports
OCR: Official Control Regulation (EU) 2017/625
General Food Law (EC 178/2002)
Animal Health Law (EU 2016/429)
Plant Health Law (EU 2016/2031)
Sources
European Union Health and food audits and analysis programme 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.
Programme of EU controls planned for 2025
European Union Health and food audits and analysis programme 2025
What is changing and why?
The European Commission performs "controls" (audits and remote assessments) of European Member States and non-EU countries to ensure they have systems in place to guarantee that food put on the EU market meets EU rules for food safety and plant and animal health.
Audits
In 2025, the following audits are planned:
- Albania – microbiological safety of plant-based food
- Argentina – safety of poultry products
- Botswana – export to the EU (citrus/Thaumatotibia leucotreta – false codling moth)
- Brazil – microbiological safety of plant-based food
- China – safety of poultry meat products and rabbit meat
- Ecuador – safety of fishery products; residues of pharmacologically active substances, pesticides and contaminants in animals and animal products
- Egypt – pesticide residue controls in plant-based food
- Guatemala – export to the EU (Calibrachoa and Petunia – plants for planting)
- India – export to the EU (Tephritidae fruit flies)
- Kenya – export to the EU (cut flowers/T. leucotreta – false codling moth)
- Mauritania – safety of fishery products
- Morocco – residues of pharmacologically active substances, pesticides, and contaminants in food of animal origin
- Pakistan – safety of fishery products
- Philippines – residues of pharmacologically active substances, pesticides, and contaminants in food of animal origin
- Serbia – safety of beef, pork, and poultry
- Thailand – residues of pharmacologically active substances, pesticides, and contaminants in food of animal origin
- Türkiye – food of non-animal origin: pesticide residues; food of animal origin: residues of pharmacologically active substances, pesticides, and contaminants
- Ukraine – food of animal origin: residues of pharmacologically active substances, pesticides, and contaminants
- Vietnam – pesticide residues in plant-based food.
The audit process involves detailed pre-audit questionnaires, site visits, and reports with recommendations for addressing non-compliances. In addition, the EU uses questionnaires to assess compliance with EU standards, particularly regarding residue control plans.
Remote assessments
In 2025, the following remote assessments are planned:
- Albania – fishery products (remote assessment)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina – fishery products (remote assessment)
- Moldova – fishery products (remote assessment)
- Montenegro – animal health; plant health and pesticides; food; import controls (assessment in the frame of the EU enlargement)
- Ukraine – fishery products.
Remote assessments are based on comprehensive questionnaires.
Residue control plans in all non-EU exporting countries must be checked at least once every 5 years. The current 5-year cycle ends in 2025, so non-EU countries that have not yet been checked can expect remote assessments this year.
Full details on control activities and planned audits can be found in the following Annexes to the Health and food audits and analysis programme 2025:
- Annex 1: Multi-annual plan 2021–2025 and controls planned in 2025
- Annex 3: Controls in candidate countries/potential candidates planned in 2025
- Annex 4: Controls in third countries planned in 2025.
Actions
Exporting countries must prepare for audits by maintaining detailed and organised records. This means documenting all procedures, controls, and corrective actions taken to meet EU requirements, and collecting clear evidence of system improvements, training logs, health and safety checks, and traceability.
Timeline
This programme highlights the audits and remote assessments planned for 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.