1.1. Prohibited
Unless specified in the specific goods list below, the Department is not aware of any prohibited edible non-prescribed products, including apiculture products for this market.
1.2. Conditions
Government certification
Australian producers and exporters of animal products should understand and adhere to the requirements under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 concerning official certificates for certain animals and goods. In particular, the export certificate must be issued before the consignment departs Australia (Article 5).
Registration and Listing
Establishments that export edible products to the EU must be export registered with the Department and included on the lists on the European Commission's (EC) website, except for plant-based foods. Please see the specific goods section below.
Packaging requirements
Ban on use of PFAS in paper and cardboard food contact materials
Denmark has banned paper and cardboard food contact material containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (for example, from recycled paper and cardboard or from printing inks), unless the food contact materials are separated from the food by a functional barrier which prevents the migration of PFAS substances to the food.
The ban came into effect from 1 July 2020.
Food processors may be asked by importers to demonstrate that materials in contact with foods such as non-prescribed goods do not contain any PFAS or if they do, are used with a functional barrier to ensure no migration to food can occur.
While Denmark is currently the only EU member state to take action on use of PFAS in food contact materials, it is noted that individual member states and the EU as a whole are considering risks associated with human exposures to PFAS and similar proposals may be made at a later date in other jurisdictions.
The Department encourages all exporters to work with their importer to ensure that product meets the current importing country requirements.
Labelling requirements
Exporters should be aware of European Union (EU) labelling requirements, including allergen statement requirements, as detailed in EU Regulation No 1169/2011.
Conditions
The European Commission (DG SANTE) has adopted a regulation setting a limit for the presence of trans fatty acids in food (two grams of industrially produced trans fat per 100 grams of fat). The new limit will apply to food intended for the final consumer and food intended for supply to retail in the European Union from 2 April 2021.
Residues
Export Destination Residues Warning – EU residue standards
Maximum residue limits (MRLs) or import tolerances for residues of specific agricultural and veterinary chemicals approved for use in Australia may not exist in the EU or may be established at levels lower than those established in Australia. Respective maximum limits (MLs) for contaminants may also vary between the EU and Australia.
Food business operators who are eligible to export to the EU should note that:
- a) These differences can be interrogated case-by-case by considering the EU standards (here for pesticides, veterinary drugs and contaminants) and the Australian standards (here for pesticides & veterinary drugs and here for contaminants).
- b) Any detection of a residue above the EU MRLs/MLs (if applicable) at the EU border would result in rejection of the consignment and trigger an information, alert and/or border rejection notification in the (public) EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF).
