In 2027, the European Commission plans to significantly step up its health controls in third countries exporting to the EU, including in particular two audits in Brazil devoted to residues and contaminants, including pesticides in fruit and vegetables, as well as poultry meat, according to the annual programme of DG SANTE, published by the Commission on Thursday 3 September.
In total, 58 on-the-spot audits in third countries are scheduled for 2027 to verify that their control systems provide sufficient guarantees that European standards are being respected. This represents an increase of 107% compared with 2025, as part of the objective stated by the Commissioner for Health, Olivér Várhelyi, of stepping up controls on imported products.
The section devoted to pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables will also cover Ecuador, India, Morocco and Peru. In addition, audits on residues and contaminants present in products of animal origin are planned in several countries, including Argentina.
For poultry meat, besides Brazil, the Commission is planning audits in Argentina and Thailand. Argentina will also be subject to a control concerning residues and contaminants in animals and animal products.
The programme refers to audits on pesticides. It also provides for documentary evaluations of the residue control plans of 30 third countries.
Paraguay, another Mercosur country, is also included in the 2027 programme, but for an audit concerning plant products, notably sesame seeds. Uruguay is being targeted because of the ban on the use of certain veterinary medicines.
For EU Member States, the 2027 programme provides for audits in 22 Member States. The countries concerned are: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Slovakia.
More details: https://aeur.eu/f/n95 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)