All consignments of meat from other EU member states must have been produced in accordance with the harmonised Community rules laid down in European Community legislation. Among other things, this legislation sets out the licensing, structural and veterinary supervision requirements to be applied in production plants. The meat has to come from animals that have been subjected to anti- and post-mortem inspection to ensure they are healthy.
Meat from third countries must have been produced to standards at least equivalent to those in the EU. Meat imported from outside the EU must:
(i) come from approved third countries;
(ii) be accompanied by appropriate animal and public health certification; and
(iii) must come from EU approved plants in the exporting country.
Meat imported from third countries must enter the EU at designated border inspection posts where veterinary checks are carried out to ensure that import conditions have been met.