List of countries authorised to export animal products to the EU: second update

Draft Commission Implementing Regulation amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 as regards the lists of third countries or regions thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of certain animals and goods intended for human consumption in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council [download]

Draft Annex [download]

Update

The European Commission has informed the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) Committee (G/SPS/N/EU/885) that it intends to amend the list of non-EU countries allowed to export specific animal products to the EU (according to Regulation 2021/405).

Proposed changes for certain animal products

New authorisations:

• Albania: products containing raw crustaceans imported from EU or approved countries
• North Macedonia: casings
• Uganda: finfish and finfish products from aquaculture
• Kyrgyz Republic: honey.

Discontinued authorisations:

• Ukraine: farmed rabbit and marine gastropods.

The Commission also proposes to add “meat preparations” to the list of farmed rabbit and wild Leporidae products that authorised countries can export to the EU.

The WTO consultation on this proposal is open until 16 November 2025.

Impacted Products

Aquaculture, composite products, casings, crustaceans, honey, finfish, farmed rabbits, live bivalve molluscs, marine gastropods

What is changing?

The European Commission proposes to update the lists of countries authorised to export animal products to the EU.

Authorisation process

To export certain animal products to the EU, countries must have in place a residue control plan validated by the European Commission. Authorised countries are listed in Annex-I of Regulation 2021/405.

For some products, such as farmed rabbits, marine gastropods, and finfish, countries must also be authorised regarding food safety. Authorised countries are listed in Regulation 2021/405: Annex V for farmed rabbits, Annex VIII for marine gastropods, and Annex IX for finfish and their products.

New authorisations (Annex-I)

• Albania: to export products containing raw crustaceans imported from EU Members States or from approved non-EU countries, but not for raw crustaceans produced in Albania
• North Macedonia: to export casings
• Uganda: to export finfish and finfish products from aquaculture (Annex-I and IX)
• Kyrgyz Republic: to export honey.

Discontinued authorisations for Ukraine

• Farmed rabbit: Ukraine has informed the Commission it no longer intends to export these products. It is delisted from both Annex-I and V.
• Marine gastropods: Ukraine has not provided guarantees of compliance with the EU’s requirements. It is delisted from both Annex-I and VIII.

Other proposed amendments

• Countries authorised in Annex V can currently export fresh meat of farmed rabbit and/or of wild Leporidae. The Commission proposes to add “meat preparations” of farmed rabbit and wild Leporidae to the list of products that can be exported to the EU.
• An amendment to footnote 16 in Annex-I clarifying that an approved control plan is not required for live bivalve molluscs even when they are produced from aquaculture.
• Correction of Annex IX for Ukraine so that it covers both finfish and finfish products as in Annex-I.

Changes for non-EU countries not covered by the scope of the AGRINFO programme are not covered in this report.

Why?

The EU updates the list of non-EU countries authorised to export animal products once or twice a year. These countries must have food safety systems and residue controls (for pesticides, contaminants, and veterinary medicines) that are as strict as those in the EU. For changes made in February 2025, see Countries authorised to export animals and animal products to the EU: public health list 2025 update.

To remain on the list of countries with authorised residue plans, non-EU countries must send their updated residue control plan for each animal product category every year by 31 March.

Timeline

The Regulation is expected to be published in the fourth quarter of 2025, and will apply 20 days after its publication.

What are the major implications for exporting countries?

When the new Regulation applies, Albania will be able to use raw crustaceans imported from EU-approved countries in products to be exported to the EU. North Macedonia will be able to export casings; Uganda will be able to export finfish and finfish products from aquaculture; and the Kyrgyz Republic will be able to export honey to the EU.

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 16 November 2025.

Background

The EU has stringent rules on the public health requirements for products of animal origin entering the European Union.

The Official Controls Regulation 2017/625 lays down the framework for the official controls that competent authorities have to perform at any stage of production, processing, and distribution.

Delegated Regulation 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 in Implementing 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 Implementing Regulation 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

Sources