EU Changes Certifications for U.S. Mollusk Imports, Increases Checks for Other High-Risk Foods
The EU has implemented increased checks on certain food imports at the border, and has also introduced new certificate requirements for shipments of mollusks and other aquaculture products from the U.S.
Certification Requirements for U.S. Mollusks
The European Commission has updated the requirements for imports of mollusks from the U.S. in light of restrictions on the use of certain antimicrobial drugs in food animals exported to the EU, as outlined in Regulation (EU) 2019/6 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/905.
U.S. firms exporting bivalve mollusks (e.g., oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops), echinoderms (e.g., sea urchins), tunicates (e.g., sea squirts), and marine gastropods (e.g., sea snails) should be aware of new certificate requirements, which must now include an attestation that:
- Aquaculture animals used to produce the products were not given antimicrobials for growth promotion or yield increase
- Animals were not treated with antimicrobial drugs that the EU has reserved for human medicine
- The products originate from approved countries or regions that meet the EU's requirements.
A transition period allows for the old certificate format to be used through December 3, 2026, if they were issued prior to September 2, 2026.
Increased Border Checks for High-Risk Food Commodities
The European Commission has also updated the list of imported foods that are subject to temporary increases in official controls upon their entry into the EU. This list is updated every six months based on Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notifications, border inspection results, and Member State testing data.
Key changes include:
- Groundnuts/peanuts and groundnut products from Argentina have been added to the list and will be subjected to a 20 percent frequency of identity and physical checks, due to aflatoxin concerns
- Checks on aubergines/eggplants from Burkina Faso due to pesticide residues increased to 30 percent
- Checks on sugar apples from Egypt due to pesticide residues increased to 30 percent
- Checks on cumin seeds from India due to pesticide residues increased to 50 percent
- Checks on Yardlong beans from Sri Lanka due to pesticide residues increased to 50 percent
- Checks on tahini and halva made from sesame seeds from Syria due to Salmonella concerns increased to 50 percent
- Cinnamon and cinnamon tree flowers from India are no longer subject to special import conditions due to ethylene oxide (i.e., requiring official certificates stating sampling and analysis show compliance with EU limits), but will still be subject to checks at 20 percent frequency
- Checks on xanthan gum from China due to ethylene oxide reduced from 20 percent to 10 percent
- Checks on nutmeg from Indonesia due to aflatoxins reduced from 50 percent to 30 percent.
Looking for quick answers on food safety topics?
Try Ask FSM, our new smart AI search tool.
Ask FSM →
