Public health lists of countries that can export animal products to the EU – mid-2026 update

Draft Commission Implementing Regulation amending 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

Draft Annex [download]

Update

The European Commission has informed the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) Committee that it intends to amend the list of non-EU countries allowed to export specific animal products to the EU (G/SPS/N/EU/942).

New authorisations

The countries below are now authorised to export the following specific animal products:

• Egypt: aquaculture (finfish and their products, and crustaceans) (Annex -I and IX)
• Albania: class A eggs (Annex IV)
• Albania, Armenia, Argentina, Bosnia, Belarus, Kenya, Morocco, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Mauritius, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye: “finfish products” (Annex IX).

Discontinued authorisations

Mozambique: aquaculture (crustaceans only).

Other proposed amendments

For bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates, and marine gastropods, there is a proposed amendment clarifying that the requirement for the residue control plan to be listed in Annex -I applies only when the aquaculture production is on land.

For details of the EU’s public health and animal health lists of approved countries (Regulations and Annexes) see Lists of non-EU countries for public health and animal health – explained.

Impacted Products

Aquaculture, crustaceans, finfish, fish, roes, caviar, eggs

What is changing?

The European Commission proposes to update the lists of countries authorised to export to the European Union (EU) as regards public health (according to Regulation 2021/405).

New authorisations

The countries below are now authorised to export the following specific animal products:

• Egypt: aquaculture (finfish and their products, and crustaceans) (Annex -I and IX)
• Albania: class A eggs (Annex IV)
• Albania, Armenia, Argentina, Bosnia, Belarus, Kenya, Morocco, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Mauritius, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye: “finfish products” is added next to “finfish” in Annex IX

It is also clarified that Azerbaijan and Iran can export only finfish products (e.g. roes and caviar).

Discontinued authorisations

• Mozambique is no longer authorised to export aquaculture products as it has not provided guarantees of compliance with the EU’s requirements. Mozambique was previously authorised to export only crustaceans.
• As Tanzania no longer produces farmed crustaceans, it is no longer listed as a country authorised to export these products to the EU (Annex IX). In practice, Tanzania has not been permitted to export these products since February 2025 when it was delisted from Annex-I (see Countries authorised to export animals and animal products to the EU: public health list 2025).

Other amendments

Bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates, and marine gastropods

For these products (live, chilled, frozen, or processed) it is clarified that only non-EU countries that have production in premises on land are required to submit a residue control plan and be listed in Annex -I (marked with code “M”, which is equivalent to “X” but specifically for bivalve molluscs). They must also be listed in Annex VIII.

Non-EU countries that do not have land production must be listed only in Annex VIII.

Clarification on wild catch and fishery products from aquaculture

Annex IX, which lists non-EU countries authorised to export fishery products for food safety, is made clearer by separating wild catch and fishery products from aquaculture into different columns.

Non-EU countries exporting fishery products from aquaculture must also be listed in Annex -I relating to residue control plans. This is not required for countries exporting wild catch.

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

Why?

The EU updates its list of authorised non-EU countries once or twice a year. For pesticides, contaminants, and veterinary medicines, authorised countries must have food safety systems and residue control plans that are at least equivalent to, and as strict as, those within the EU.

To remain approved in Annex -I, 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 third quarter of 2026, 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 export class A eggs
• Albania, Armenia, Argentina, Bosnia, Belarus, Kenya, Morocco, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Mauritius, Serbia, Tunisia, and Türkiye will be able to export finfish products (in addition to finfish)
• Egypt will be able to export finfish, finfish products, and crustaceans from aquaculture.

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 26 June 2026.

Background

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

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.

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 to export in the relevant lists, depending on the species (see Lists of non-EU countries for public health and animal health – explained).

Resources

Sources