Publication
Products of Animal Origin: Insects for Human Consumption
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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1. ‘Insects’ are defined, in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292, as food consisting of, isolated from or produced from insects or their parts including any life stadia of insects intended for human consumption which are, when applicable, authorised in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) and included in the Union list of novel foods established by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 (4) (‘the Union list of novel foods’).
2. Insects can be imported into the Union provided that they:
a. Come from an approved country/part of a country;
b. Come from an establishment registered by and regularly audited by the competent authority of the exporting country;
c. Are accompanied by an agreed animal/public health certificate.
3. Insects must have been produced in accordance with the conditions laid down in:
a. Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety
b. Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs
c. Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 laying down specific rules for food of animal origin
d. Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products
e. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 with regard to requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of food-producing animals and certain goods intended for human consumption
f. Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 on novel foods
g. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 establishing the Union list of novel foods
h. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 laying down the lists of third countries or regions thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of certain animals and goods intended for human consumption in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/625
1. Consignment of insects shall only be authorised for entry into the union from Third Countries listed in Annex XV to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 .
Insects must be produced in establishments registered with, and regularly audited by, the competent authority of the exporting country.
3. Insects must come from (an) establishment(s) implementing a programme based on the hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) principles in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004.
4. Insects must have been handled and, where appropriate, prepared, packaged and stored in a hygienic manner in accordance with the requirements of Annex I (primary producing) or Annex II (other stages) to Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004.
5: When applicable, the insects have been authorised on the Union market in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 (the ‘novel foods’ regulation) and listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470.
6. Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have international agreements with the EU which means that they implement EU veterinary legislation in relation to the movement of animal products. Animal products from these countries must comply with the same requirements applying to animal products from EU Member States and are therefore not subject to official controls.
7. Other Third Countries have special conditions associated with the import of products of animal origin. Further information can be found in the following legislation relevant to that particular country:
• Canada: Council Decision 1999/201/EC; Decision 79/542/EC
• New Zealand: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/1901 ; Council Decision 97/132/EC
• USA: Council Decision 1998/258/EC
1. Consignments of insects shall be presented at a Border Control Post accompanied by a health certificate drawn up in conformity with the Model certificate INS found in Chapter 48 of Annex III to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235.
3. The certifying veterinarian should ensure that only the relevant paragraphs and, where appropriate, additional guarantees and/or special conditions applicable to exporting country are included.
1. Consignments of insects entering the EU must be inspected at an EU-approved Border Control Post (BCP) where Member States' official veterinarians ensure they fulfil all the requirements provided for in the EU legislation.
2. The operator responsible for the consignment must give the BCP at the intended point of entry advance notification of the arrival of the consignment.
3. There is a required minimum pre-notification notice period of at least 24 hours’ notice in advance of the consignment’s arrival.
4. Failure to submit correct documentation within this timeline may result in significant delays in the consignment being processed through the Border Control Post.
5. Pre-notification is given by the submission of Part 1 of the Common Health Entry Document (CHED-P), as is laid down in Commission Implementing Regulation (EC) No. 2019/1715, through the online TRACES system.
6. Copies of other supporting documentation associated with the consignment should be submitted at this time as well - such as the Health Certificate, Invoice, Packing list etc.
7: Necessary documents and logistical information must be submitted 24 hours in advance via the DAFM Import Portal .
1. Providing all the documentation has been submitted correctly and within the correct timeframes, a large proportion of the documentary check can be commenced in advance of the consignment’s arrival. This includes examination of the health certificate and other documents accompanying a consignment.
a. Please note the original hard copy of the health certificate must travel with the consignment, this will be checked and held at the BCP at the point of entry into the EU.
2. Provided all is in order with the documentary check, the consignment will then be subject to an identity check at the BCP to ensure it identifies with the consignment that was declared in the documentation.
3. A proportion of consignments will be selected for a full physical inspection with/without sampling as appropriate.
4. Upon satisfactory completion of the required checks, the decision is entered in Part 2 of the CHED which must accompany the consignment to the first place of destination referred to in the CHED.
5. If the consignment does not meet the import requirements, the consignment may be rejected and either re-exported or destroyed.