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Exporting food to the EU: CHED, TRACES, border control posts (2026)

Animal products, plants and some foods of non-animal origin cannot simply be cleared by customs in the EU: they must enter through an approved border control post (BCP), be notified in advance in the TRACES system with a Common Health Entry Document (CHED), and often travel with an official certificate from the exporting country. Products on the EU high-risk list also need laboratory results.

Checked against official sources: 2026-10

At a glance

WhereAn approved border control post (BCP) at the point of entry into the EU
DocumentCommon Health Entry Document (CHED), filed in TRACES with an EU Login account
CHED-ALive animals
CHED-PProducts of animal origin, germinal products, animal by-products, composite products, hay and straw
CHED-PPPlants, plant products and other objects
CHED-DFood and feed of non-animal origin under increased controls
Prior noticeBy the operator responsible for the consignment, at least one working day before arrival
High-risk listImplementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793, reviewed about every six months; latest change applied from 30 June 2026
Annex II productsNeed an official certificate and sampling and analysis results from the exporting country

Which goods go through a border control post

Under the EU Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625, certain consignments from outside the EU are checked at an approved border control post before customs release. The EU's TRACES system uses four kinds of Common Health Entry Document (CHED) for them:

Prior notification and the CHED

The operator responsible for the consignment, usually the EU importer or its agent, fills in Part I of the CHED in TRACES and gives prior notice to the border control post of first arrival at least one working day before the consignment is expected. Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1013 allows shorter notice, at least four hours, in certain cases where transport logistics make one working day impossible. TRACES needs a personal EU Login account. The authority at the border control post completes Part II with its decision.

For products of animal origin and other goods that need one, the competent authority in the exporting country issues the official health certificate in TRACES (the EU IMPORT module), and the importer links it to the CHED.

The high-risk list for food of non-animal origin

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 lists foods and feeds of non-animal origin from named countries that face a temporarily increased frequency of identity and physical checks (Annex I), and those that may enter only under special conditions (Annex II). Finnish Customs notes that the product range is updated every six months; Austria's food safety authority reported changes applied from 18 February 2026 and, under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1206, from 30 June 2026.

For Annex II products, the consignment needs an official certificate and the results of sampling and analyses confirmed by the competent authority of the exporting country. The importer files a CHED-D in TRACES no later than one working day before arrival.

Step by step

  1. Check whether your product needs a CHED: animal products, plants and plant products, or food of non-animal origin listed in Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 for your country.
  2. For listed foods, read the current version of the Annexes for your product and country of origin, since the list changes about every six months.
  3. Arrange the official certificate, and for Annex II products the sampling and laboratory analysis, with your country's competent authority before shipping.
  4. Make sure the shipment arrives at an approved border control post for that product type.
  5. Send the certificate details and documents to the EU importer early, so it can file the CHED in TRACES at least one working day before arrival.
  6. Keep the commercial invoice, packing list and certificate consistent in product names, lot numbers and weights.

Documents you usually need

Common problems and how to avoid them

The consignment is held because no CHED was filed in time.

What to do: The importer must notify the border control post in TRACES at least one working day before arrival; send the documents before departure.

The goods arrive at a port without a border control post for that product.

What to do: Book the shipment to a port or airport with an approved border control post for the product category.

A food on the 2019/1793 list arrives without laboratory results.

What to do: Annex II products need an official certificate and sampling and analysis results from the exporting country's competent authority.

The exporter used an old version of the high-risk list.

What to do: Check the current consolidated text of Regulation (EU) 2019/1793; it is amended about every six months.

Sources

  1. Modules available in TRACES European Commission
  2. Common health entry documents (CHED) Finnish Customs
  3. Intensified import control Finnish Customs
  4. Pre-notification and TRACES Food and Veterinary Service, Latvia
  5. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1013 on prior notification of consignments legislation.gov.uk (text as adopted by the EU)
  6. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 EUR-Lex
  7. Changes to import controls on food of non-animal origin from 30 June 2026 Austrian Federal Office for Consumer Health (BAVG)
  8. Changes to the import control of food of non-animal origin from 18 February 2026 Austrian Federal Office for Consumer Health (BAVG)

Rules change often. This note is practical guidance based on the sources above, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the authority, your importer or a licensed customs broker before you ship.

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Trade notes

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Common questions

What is a CHED?

A Common Health Entry Document filed in the EU's TRACES system for consignments checked at a border control post: CHED-A for live animals, CHED-P for animal products, CHED-PP for plants and CHED-D for listed food and feed of non-animal origin.

Who files the CHED?

The operator responsible for the consignment, usually the EU importer or its agent, fills in Part I; the border control post completes Part II.

How early must the border control post be notified?

At least one working day before the expected arrival; in certain cases of transport constraints, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1013 allows at least four hours.

What is Regulation (EU) 2019/1793?

The EU list of foods and feeds of non-animal origin from named countries that face increased checks (Annex I) or special conditions with an official certificate and laboratory results (Annex II). It is updated about every six months.

Does every food shipment to the EU need a CHED?

No. It applies to animal products, plants and plant products, and foods of non-animal origin listed for increased controls; other foods are cleared through customs, though they must still meet EU food law.

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