The EU Import Rules for Entry of Composite Products has been in effect since 21 April 2021, entry requirements of composite products will no longer be based on percentage of the animal-based ingredients. Instead, the new rule will be based on the animal or public health risk linked to the composite product itself.

For shelf-stable meatless composite products, the animal-based component present in the composite product, i.e. fish, milk and eggs, must come from the EU or an accredited Third country, whose residue monitoring plan has been approved by the EU and listed in Commission Decision 2011/163/EU. Third countries importing such raw materials from the listed countries, eggs and milk in the case of the Philippines, will be complemented and listed by a restrictive footnote 3 stating to this fact. Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Switzerland are possible sources for milk while China, India, Japan and US are listed as possible sources of eggs.

Low risk composite products that are exempted from EU border control will have to be accompanied by a private attestation issued by the operator/importer at the time it is placed in the market. The attestation also includes a Health Information about the product, which will mostly be provided by the supplier (PH exporter/manufacturer). DTI reminds all stakeholders to discuss this matter with their respective importers in EU member states, to avoid refusal from entry of shipped goods.

Exporters to EU are encouraged to answer the following survey.