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Food Safety

Animal products: movements within the Union and entry into the EU

Every day, products of animal origin are moved between the EU Member States or enter into the EU. In order that all those products can be moved safely avoiding transmission of diseases either to the public or to other animals, the EU has laid down a range of animal health requirements.

The general animal health requirements that are applicable to both movements between the EU Member States and entry into the Union are laid down in Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Movements between the EU Member States

Overall, the requirements are harmonized between the Member States. To ensure that harmonisation is maintained, products of animal origin must be produced in a registered or an approved establishment. Checks on the products may also be carried out at the final destination.

In addition to the general animal health requirements, specific requirements for products of animal origin may be required during evolving disease situations in the EU Member States. Specific animal health certificates may be needed in those cases.

Further detailed information on the movements between the EU Member States of products of animal origin can be found here.

Entry into the Union

Animal health requirements for the entry into the Union are set out in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692. The model animal health and animal health/official certificates which must accompany products of animal origin when entering the EU are set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235. The documents containing animal health attestations must be signed by an official veterinarian of the competent authority of the exporting third country or territory, guaranteeing that the conditions for entry into the EU have been met.

Further detailed information on the entry into the Union of products of animal origin can be found here.

On entry into the EU, the products of animal origin are inspected, as described in more detail in the Veterinary Border Control Section, at a Border Control Post (BCP) - as listed on our at a Border Control Post page.

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Further information