EU Food Import Rules Update: Honey, Meat & More

Recently,the EU issued Notification G/SPS/N/EU/631,amending and correcting Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292 concerning requirements for honey,meat,highly refined products,gelatin capsules,and aquatic products entering the EU.Below are the main amendments:

(1) Supplemented definitions for honey and apiculture products,planning to establish a list of establishments in third countries producing honey or other apiculture products in accordance with Article 127(3)(e)(ii) and (iii) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625.Meanwhile,third countries are granted sufficient time to comply with the amendments made in Article 13 of (EU) 2022/2292,i.e.a transitional period is provided.

(2) Clarified that raw materials for fresh meat,minced meat,and other meat products permitted for import into the EU may come from establishments registered in third countries or Member States.

(3) Revised the scope of exemption from accompanying official certificates for certain shelf-stable composite products,clarifying that this exemption does not apply when the composite product contains gelatin or collagen derived from ruminant bones.

(4) Clarification was provided on the provision stating that "no official certificate is required for gelatin capsules not derived from ruminant bones," specifying that this requirement applies not only to empty capsules but also to filled capsules used as ingredients in composite products or products of animal origin.

(5) Amend the HS code coverage for highly refined animal-derived products from "2930,2932,3503,3507,or 3913" to "2932 or 3503."

(6) Corrected errors in the subheading list for sprouts and seeds for sprouting production as specified in Part 2 of Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87.

The new import requirements are primarily established to ensure food safety and prevent pests from causing other harms to countries.The new import requirements will be published in October 2023 and will take effect 20 days after publication.However,for honey and apiculture products,there will be a 12-month transitional period after publication.