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New EU Task Force to Enforce Import Standards

29/01/2026

Madeleine Royère-Koonings
European Union
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In a strategic move to level the playing field for European producers, the European Commission has formally established a dedicated task force to reinforce agri-food import controls. Launched on January 26, 2026, during the Agriculture Council, the new body aims to ensure that all goods entering the Single Market—regardless of origin—strictly adhere to the Union’s rigorous health and safety standards.

The task force will prioritize the monitoring of pesticide residues and food/feed safety. This is a direct response to growing calls from European agricultural sectors for “reciprocity,” ensuring that imported products are held to the same environmental and chemical standards as those produced within the EU. By harmonizing inspections across all member states, the Commission intends to eliminate discrepancies at different points of entry, preventing “port shopping” for less stringent checks.

Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi, emphasized that while the EU remains open to trade, compliance is non-negotiable. “Whether food comes from nearby or from across the globe, the rule is the same: any product entering the Union must meet our standards, without exception,” Várhelyi stated.

For the global tomato processing sector, this means a more standardized and predictable regulatory environment. Over the next two years, the EU plans to increase audits of non-EU countries by 50% and boost inspections at European Border Control Posts by a third.

Key Objectives of the New Body:

  • Uniform Implementation: Further harmonizing import controls across all 27 Member States to ensure consistent enforcement.
  • Targeted Monitoring: Coordinating EU-wide surveillance of specific high-risk commodities and pesticide usage.
  • Regulatory Recommendations: Identifying where new administrative or legislative measures are needed to close gaps in the current safety framework.

This initiative, aligned with the “Vision for Agriculture and Food,” serves as a vital safeguard for European growers and processors who face increasing competition from international markets under newly signed free trade agreements.

Sources : Agrisole, European Commission