Stricter border controls for imported food: what changes in 2026

Key data

Importers of food and feed from certain third countries face an immediate tightening of border controls. The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1206, published on 10 June 2026 and in force from the previous day, amends Regulation 2019/1793 to update the lists of products subject to higher frequency of physical and identity controls, as well as emergency measures applicable at EU border control posts.

This is not a regulation requiring transposition: it is of direct application in all Member States, which means its effects are immediate for any operator importing the products from the countries included in the amended annexes.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2019/1793 is the European framework governing the temporary increase in official controls and emergency measures for the entry into the EU of certain goods from third countries. The new Regulation 2026/1206 updates that framework in two specific dimensions:

• Update of product lists subject to higher frequency of physical and identity controls at the border.
• Update of emergency measures applicable to certain goods and countries of origin.

Enhanced controls apply to food, feed and plant products from the specific third countries listed in the amended annexes of Regulation 2019/1793. The text does not establish a public summary list of countries in the available regulatory summary: to find out the exact countries and products affected, it is necessary to consult the annexes of the regulation in the official source.

Economic and operational impact

The tightening of controls has direct consequences for the operations and costs of importing companies:

• Longer customs clearance time: Shipments subject to enhanced physical or identity control cannot be released until inspection is complete. This can result in additional days of waiting at the border.
• Additional inspection costs: Physical controls at the border generate fees and incur storage, handling and, where applicable, laboratory analysis expenses that fall on the economic operator.
• Risk of detention or rejection of shipments: If the goods do not pass controls, they may be detained or rejected at the border, with the resulting cost of return, destruction or re-export.
• Impact on the supply chain: Border delays affect logistics planning, especially for perishable products or those with tight delivery windows.

The regulation does not establish specific amounts for fees or penalties in the available summary, but the actual economic impact will depend on the import volume, type of product and country of origin of each operator.

Who does it affect?

• Importers of food, feed and plant products from third countries included in the amended annexes of Regulation 2019/1793.
• Distributors working with suppliers from those countries whose supply chains depend on regular entry of those goods into the EU.
• Food and feed industry operators using imported products from affected countries as raw materials.
• Customs agents and freight forwarders managing the clearance of these goods on behalf of their clients.
• Procurement and supply chain managers in agribusiness companies with international sourcing.

Practical example

A Spanish company importing spices or processed plant products from a third country included in the amended annexes of Regulation 2019/1793 presents a shipment at the EU border control post.

Under the new Regulation 2026/1206, that shipment is subject to a higher frequency of physical and identity control than before the amendment. In practice, this means:

1. The goods cannot be released automatically: they must wait to be physically inspected.
2. If the product is also subject to emergency measures, the importer must demonstrate compliance with additional requirements (for example, certificates of analysis for contaminants or specific origin documentation).
3. If the shipment does not pass controls, it may be detained or rejected at the border, which implies storage costs, possible destruction and loss of the value of the goods.

To avoid this scenario, the importer must verify in advance whether their products and countries of origin are included in the updated annexes and, if necessary, strengthen the documentation and prior analysis before shipment.

What should companies do now?

1. Review the annexes of the amended Regulation 2019/1793 to identify whether the products and countries of origin your company works with are included in the updated lists. Consult the official source on EUR-Lex to access the full text with annexes.
2. Assess the impact on transit times and supply chain: if your products are affected, adjust delivery schedules and safety stocks to absorb possible border delays.
3. Review import documentation: ensure that certificates, analyses and origin documents are complete and up-to-date before each shipment, especially if emergency measures apply.
4. Coordinate with the customs agent or freight forwarder so they are informed of the new requirements and can properly manage the clearance of affected shipments.
5. Consider alternative sourcing: if enhanced controls generate unsustainable costs or delays, analyse whether there are suppliers in unaffected countries that can meet demand.
6. Monitor future updates to Regulation 2019/1793, as the lists of countries and products may be modified periodically based on control results and detected risks.

Official source

Consult full regulation in official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601206