Bridge
Islands
 Back to home
Exporter Guide · Sanitary & Phytosanitary

EU Sanitary Standard Checkers for Pacific exporters.

The European Union enforces some of the world's strictest health, safety and phytosanitary (SPS) rules. Pacific exporters of fisheries, coffee, cocoa and other agri-food products must satisfy these requirements before goods can clear an EU border-control post. This guide walks through the authorities, certificates and checks you need to pass.

Food safety

Protects EU consumers from microbiological, chemical and physical hazards across the supply chain.

Plant & animal health

Prevents the introduction of pests, diseases and invasive species into EU territory.

Market access

Compliance is the price of admission — non-compliant consignments are rejected, destroyed or returned at the exporter's cost.

The regulatory framework

EU SPS controls sit on top of a small number of foundational regulations. Knowing which one governs your product tells you what evidence you must produce.

Regulation (EU) 2017/625

Official Controls Regulation

The umbrella rulebook for border checks on food, feed, animals and plants entering the EU.

Regulation (EC) 178/2002

General Food Law

Sets traceability, food-safety and rapid-alert obligations across the supply chain.

Regulation (EC) 852/2004 & 853/2004

Food hygiene & animal-origin products

Hygiene rules and HACCP. Required for fish, meat, dairy and other animal-origin exports.

Regulation (EC) 1881/2006 & 2023/915

Contaminant limits

Maximum levels for mycotoxins (incl. ochratoxin A in coffee/cocoa), heavy metals, PAHs and dioxins.

Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 & 2016/2031

Plant health regime

Phytosanitary requirements for plants and plant products including coffee and cocoa beans.

Regulation (EC) 1005/2008

IUU fishing regulation

Catch certificates required to prove fishery products are not from illegal, unreported or unregulated fishing.

Who you'll deal with

DG SANTE (European Commission)

Sets EU food-safety and SPS policy and audits exporting countries' control systems.

EFSA — European Food Safety Authority

Provides the scientific risk assessments that underpin EU maximum residue and contaminant limits.

Border Control Posts (BCPs)

Approved EU entry points where documentary, identity and physical checks are performed via TRACES NT.

National Competent Authority

In PNG: NAQIA for plant/animal health and the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) for fishery catch certification.

Product-specific checklists

Fisheries & aquaculture

  • Country listed in EU "third country" list for fishery products.
  • Establishment (vessel / processing plant / cold store) approved with an EU-recognised number.
  • Health certificate signed by the competent authority (NFA in PNG).
  • IUU catch certificate validated under Reg. (EC) 1005/2008.
  • Heavy metals: mercury, cadmium, lead within Reg. 2023/915 limits.
  • Histamine, parasites, microbiological criteria per Reg. 2073/2005.
  • Cold-chain records and HACCP plan available on request.

Coffee

  • Phytosanitary certificate issued by NAQIA before shipment.
  • Ochratoxin A ≤ 5 µg/kg (roasted) / ≤ 10 µg/kg (soluble) per Reg. 2023/915.
  • Pesticide residues within MRLs of Reg. (EC) 396/2005 (e.g. glyphosate, chlorpyrifos).
  • EUDR due-diligence statement: geolocation of plots, no deforestation after 31 Dec 2020.
  • Free from quarantine pests (e.g. coffee berry borer where applicable).
  • Moisture and packaging controls to prevent mould during transit.

Cocoa

  • Phytosanitary certificate from NAQIA.
  • Cadmium limits per Reg. 2023/915 (0.10–0.80 mg/kg depending on product).
  • Ochratoxin A and aflatoxin monitoring for cocoa derivatives.
  • PAHs (benzo[a]pyrene) below limits where roasting/drying involves smoke.
  • EUDR due-diligence statement with farm-level geolocation.
  • Proper fermentation and drying to avoid mould and off-flavours.

Step-by-step compliance path

  1. 1

    Confirm market eligibility

    Check that PNG is on the EU list of approved third countries for your product category and that your establishment is listed (TRACES NT / DG SANTE registers).

  2. 2

    Map the applicable rules

    Identify the EU regulations covering hygiene, contaminants, pesticide residues and phytosanitary status for your product.

  3. 3

    Implement HACCP and traceability

    Document hazard analysis, critical control points, batch traceability and supplier records (Reg. 178/2002, 852/2004).

  4. 4

    Test against EU limits

    Use ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories for contaminant, residue and microbiological testing aligned with EU methods.

  5. 5

    Obtain certificates

    Secure the health certificate, phytosanitary certificate and — for fisheries — the IUU catch certificate from the competent PNG authority for the Bridge Islands network.

  6. 6

    Pre-notify via TRACES NT

    Submit the Common Health Entry Document (CHED) at least 24 hours before arrival at the EU Border Control Post.

  7. 7

    Pass border checks

    Documentary, identity and (risk-based) physical/laboratory checks at the BCP. Keep representative samples and full records on file.

Common rejection reasons

Drawn from the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). Address these proactively.

Ochratoxin A / aflatoxin above limits in coffee and cocoa

Excess cadmium in cocoa products

Mercury exceedance in large pelagic fish (e.g. tuna, swordfish)

Histamine spikes in tuna due to broken cold chain

Missing or improperly validated IUU catch certificate

Quarantine pests detected in plant consignments

Pesticide residues above MRLs (e.g. chlorpyrifos)

Incomplete TRACES NT pre-notification (CHED)

Official tools & references

EU Access2Markets

Search tariffs, rules of origin and product-specific SPS requirements by HS code.

TRACES NT

EU online platform for sanitary certificates, CHEDs and IUU catch certificates.

RASFF Window

Browse food/feed safety alerts to see why consignments are rejected.

EU Pesticides Database

Look up maximum residue levels (MRLs) per active substance and crop.

Need help navigating EU compliance?

Request an introduction to an EU partner, importer or compliance consultant through the Bridge Islands network.

Request an introduction

This guide is informational and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify current requirements with the European Commission and your national competent authority before shipping.