The European Commission has updated its regulation on the temporary increase of official controls and emergency measures for food imports entering the EU.
Regulation (EU) 2019/1973 sets forth rules on the temporary increase of official controls at entry into the EU on certain foods and feed of non-animal origin from specified countries, due to the risk of contamination by mycotoxins, pesticide residues, microbiological contamination, Sudan dyes, Rhodamine B, and plant toxins. The Commission must review this list at least every six months, considering new information such as Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notifications.
Recent RASFF notifications and information gathered through official controls performed in 2024 indicate the need to amend the lists of foods set out in the Annexes of (EU) 2019/1973 to reflect:
- An increased rate of checks on zara lemons imported from Bangladesh, okra and cumin seeds from India, black-eyed beans from Madagascar, Capsicum peppers from Rwanda, dried oregano from Türkiye, and durian from Vietnam
- While still maintaining some level of increased checks, reduction in the rate of checks on oranges from Egypt, Sesamum seeds from India, and food supplements containing botanicals from India
- While maintaining an increased rate of checks, deletion of the special requirement for official certificates accompanying imports of Sesamum seeds from Ethiopia, certain preparations of turnips from Lebanon, Capsicum peppers from Sri Lanka, and cumin seeds from Türkiye
- Deletion of the increased level of official controls on yardlong beans from the Dominican Republic.
A full list of changes to (EU) 2019/1973 can be read in the December 18, 2024 amendment, (EU) 2024/3153.
