European Union 3/1

Certain food and feed of non-animal origin exported from Lebanon are subject to import restrictions, namely:

  • Brassica rapa" turnip: 50% of the shipments are checked to ensure that the prescribed pesticide residue percentages are not exceeded.
  • EUR-Lex:You may learn more about import restrictions for other countries by visiting the EUR-Lex website

The non-EU country shall be approved for the export of a particular category of food of animal origin and shall be on the list of non-EU countries approved for that specific category of food.

 Poultry import restrictions include some of the following criteria:

  • Exporting countries shall have a competent authority responsible to implement an effective inspection in all stages of the poultry production chain. The authority shall be empowered, organized and resourced to carry out effective inspection and ensure both public and animal health.
  • That the country or region of origin meets the applicable animal health standards.
  • The country should be a member of the World Organization for Animal Health formerly the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) and should comply with the organization's standards and reporting requirements
  • To notify the approved countries within 24 hours of an outbreak of avian influenza and Newcastle disease, including also significant changes in health status, to the European Commission's Directorate General for Health and Food Safety.
  • You may access the European Commission's website for the complete list of restrictions on the export of poultry to the European Union via the following link: ec.europa.eu

 Meat import restrictions include some of the following criteria:

  • Exporting countries should have a competent authority responsible to ensure credible inspection and controls throughout the production chain. The authority shall be empowered, organised and resourced to carry out effective inspection and ensure public and animal health..
  • Imports are only allowed from approved establishments such as slaughterhouses and cutting plants that have been inspected by the competent authority of the exporting country and found to meet EU requirements.
  • To export meat of bovine, ovine or caprine species (cattle, sheep and goats) to the European Union, exporting countries have to apply for a determination of the bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) status.
  • You may access the European Commission's website to find out the rest of the restrictions imposed on the export of meat to the European Union via the following link:: ec.europa.eu

 Fish import restrictions include some of the following criteria :

  • Exporting countries should have a competent authority responsible to ensure credible inspection and controls throughout the production chain. The authority shall be empowered, organized and resourced to carry out effective inspection and ensure public and animal health
  • Live fish, their eggs and gametes intended for breeding and live bivalve mollusks shall fulfill the relevant EU animal health standards. Consequently the veterinary services in the non-EU country shall ensure effective enforcement of all necessary health controls and implement appropriate health monitoring programs.
  • Specific conditions apply for imports of live or processed bivalve mollusks (e.g. mussels and clams)..
  • Echinoderms (e.g. sea urchins) or marine gastropods (e.g. sea-snails and conchs).
  • You may log into the following European Commission website for the rest of the restrictions on exporting fish to the European Union: ec.europa.eu

Certain plants, plant products and other materials entering the European Union shall be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate ensuring that they were subject to appropriate inspection.

Mandatory phytosanitary checks are carried out on all plants and plant products from non-EU countries, and the following shall be provided:

  • Phytosanitary certificates and documents to ensure that the shipment meets the EU requirements;
  • Identity to ensure that the shipment is in compliance with the certificate;
  • Inspection to ensure that the shipment is free of pests.

EU countries charge fees for document, identity and phytosanitary controls that shall be paid by the importer or his customs agent.

List of plant products banned from entering the EU from third world countries

Prior notification of foods to be imported

  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shall receive prior notification of any food, including animal feed, imported or proposed for import into the United States.

Final Rule on Preventive Controls of Human Food

      • Importers shall verify potential risks from foreign suppliers, including
      • Facilities subject to the regulation are required to establish and implement a food safety system that includes a preventive analysis based on these risks. The regulation sets forth requirements for the development of a written food safety plan that includes a risk analysis, preventive controls, and monitoring and management of preventive controls
      • The food is produced in compliance with section 418 (concerning hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls) or 419 (concerning standards for the safe production and harvesting of certain fruits and vegetables that are raw agricultural commodities (RACs)) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 350g and 350h), as appropriate
        • 350h
        • 21 USC 350g
        • The food is not adulterated under section 402 of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 342)
          • (21 U.S.C. 342)
          • The food is not misbranded under section 403(w) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 343(w)) (concerning food allergen labeling). .

The main sanitary conditions to be met are as follows :

  • 1- Safety of the water that comes in contact with food or food contact surfaces, or is used in the manufacture of ice
  • 2-Condition and cleanliness of food contact surfaces, including utensils, gloves, and outer garments
  • 3-Prevention of cross-contamination from insanitary objects to food, food packaging material, and other food contact surfaces, including utensils, gloves, and other outer garments, and from raw product to cooked product.
  • 4- Protection of food, food packaging materials, and food contact surfaces from adulteration with lubricants, fuel, pesticides, cleaning compounds, sanitizing agents, condensate, and other chemical, physical, and biological contaminants
  • 5- Proper labeling, storage, and use of toxic compounds.
  • 6- Control of employee health conditions that could result in the microbiological contamination of food, food packaging materials, and food contact surfaces.
  • 7- Exclusion of pests from the food plant.

Some of the criteria required by these certifications include the following:

Export health certificates for processed foods

  • Ensure food safety and suitability for human consumption
  • Conduct food handling procedures in a food facility under the control of a competent regulatory authority and/or officially authorized authority, and apply the food safety management system based on the principles of the HACP system or an equivalent system.

Export health certificates for meat and meat products

  • Ensure the safety and suitability of meat and meat products for human consumption
  • Animals have been slaughtered in a slaughterhouse approved and under the supervision of the competent authority of the exporting country, and is approved by the GCC authorities.
  • Conduct an ante mortem and post- mortem inspection on the meat and/or meat product from animals by veterinarians assigned by the Competent Authority of the country of origin.
  • Handle the meat and/or meat product at an establishment that has been subjected to inspections by the competent authority and implements a food safety management system based on HACCP principles or an equivalent system..
  • Apply good veterinary practices in the use of veterinary medicines (including growth promoters) and agriculture chemicals in live animals, and any residues in meat and/or meat products comply with GCC requirements.
  • Make sure that the meat and/or meat product originates from animals that have not been slaughtered for the purpose of disease eradication or disease control.
  • Make sure that the meat and/or meat product has not been derived from animals fed on processed animal protein, excluding milk substitute during lactation period and fishmeal.

Export health certificates for milk and milk products

  • Make sure that the milk/milk products are safe and fit for human consumption
  • Make sure that the milk /milk products have been derived from healthy animals that are subject to the official veterinary service inspections in the country of origin.
  • Handle the milk/milk products in an establishment that has been subjected to inspections by the competent authority and implements a food safety management system based on HACCP principles or an equivalent system..
  • Apply good veterinary practices in the use of veterinary medicines (including growth promoters) and agriculture chemicals in live animals and any residues in milk or milk products comply with GCC requirements.

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