EU border checks on food: Argentine peanuts, Indian cumin and Syrian tahini checked more often, Indian cinnamon no longer needs a certificate
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1206, published on 10 June 2026, replaces Annexes I and II to Regulation 2019/1793 — the lists of food and feed of non-animal origin subject to increased identity and physical checks on entry into the EU. The changes concern aflatoxins, pesticide residues, Salmonella and ethylene oxide.
- New entries and higher frequencies of identity and physical checks: peanuts and peanut products from Argentina — aflatoxins, 20 % of consignments (new entry); Solanum aethiopicum aubergines from Burkina Faso and sugar apple (Annona squamosa) from Egypt — pesticide residues, 30 %; cumin seeds from India and yardlong beans from Sri Lanka — pesticides, 50 %; tahini and halva made from sesame seeds from Syria — Salmonella, 50 %.
- Capsicum peppers from India, subject to increased aflatoxin checks since May 2019, are removed from the list — compliance has proved generally satisfactory. Cinnamon and cinnamon-tree flowers from India move from Annex II to Annex I — no longer requiring an official certificate stating that sampling and analysis results comply, with 20 % of consignments checked for ethylene oxide.
- Xanthan gum from China (ethylene oxide) will be checked at 10 % instead of 20 % of consignments and nutmeg from Indonesia (aflatoxins) at 30 % instead of 50 %. Combined entries for dried spices from India have been split into individual commodities and CN codes to allow better assessment of control data.
- The changes are based on RASFF notifications and the results of Member States’ official controls in the second half of 2025; the Commission reviews the lists at intervals not exceeding six months (Article 12 of Regulation 2019/1793). The regulation enters into force on the twentieth day after publication.