EU to Step Up Import Controls on Agri-Food Products from Non-EU Countries

02 January 2026, EU: The European Commission plans to increase checks on agri-food imports from non-EU countries as part of its approach to create fair and competitive conditions for EU farmers. This aligns with the EU Vision for Agriculture and Food for 2025–2029 and will prioritise controls related to food safety, pesticide use and animal welfare.

For 2026, 51% of the 159 official control audits in the EU’s agri-food chain will focus on non-EU exporters to the European market. This is a rise from 33% in the 2025 programme, indicating a clear shift towards tighter monitoring of imported consignments.

Measures Announced After December 2025 Dialogue

Following the “Implementation Dialogue on Import Controls” on 9 December 2025, the Commission outlined new actions to reinforce oversight of international agri-food trade. These include:

• A planned 50% increase in audits of non-EU countries over the next two years, while current inspection levels within the EU remain unchanged.
• 33% more audits of European Border Control Posts to ensure Member State compliance with EU inspection rules.
• Increased surveillance of products and trading partners with repeated non-compliance, with additional checks introduced where required.
• Technical support and training for national authorities, including an EU programme to train about 500 officials on updated control procedures.
• Tighter rules for imports where traces of pesticides banned in the EU are detected, aligned with international standards.

Task Force and Monitoring Through AGRINFO

A dedicated EU Task Force will be established in early 2026 to coordinate import controls across Member States. It will review the implementation of the new measures, streamline procedures and organise monitoring of selected product categories entering the EU. Progress updates and any new regulatory requirements will be published through the AGRINFO platform.

This initiative is supported by the AGRINFO programme, implemented by COLEAD and financed by the European Union. COLEAD notes that the content produced under the programme is its sole responsibility and does not represent EU institutional positions.

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