Agriculture and food exports

Most often there is no difference between the applicable rules and regulations for selling to a customer in Sweden and selling to a customer in another EU country.

However in certain cases there may be national special rules, and you can, as a company, obtain assistance in determining this. Each EU country has a contact point where you can turn to learn about what specific rules and regulations apply to your product. The contact point should respond within fifteen business days and may not charge for basic information.

Contact points at the European Commission’s website

If you are selling food, you can also contact the food control authority of the country you want to sell to.

How to contact other countries at the National Food Agency of Sweden’s website (in Swedish)

For some products, individual public authorities have compiled what you need to consider. You will find links to useful pages here:

Animal-based food for human consumption at the National Food Agency (in Swedish)

Endangered species at the Swedish Board of Agriculture (in Swedish)

Plants and seeds at the Swedish Board of Agriculture (in Swedish)

Bees and bumblebees  at Swedish Board of Agriculture (in Swedish)

A good summary of the applicable rules in other countries can be found at the European Commission. If you use their Market Access Database, you can specify which product you want to export and which country you want to export to, and then the database responds with a comprehensive list of what you need to learn about, verify and consider. You will find information here about the applicable customs duties along with information about the documents and certificates required with importation in different countries.

The Access2Markets Database at the European Commission

You may need to read the Swedish Food Agency's website about exporting food to different countries. You can also attend the Swedish Food Agency's e-training for exports.

Export of foodstuffs at the Swedish Food Agency (in Swedish)

Training for food companies at the National Food Agency (in Swedish)

If you want to export fodder, live animals and animal products that are not food, the Swedish Board of Agriculture has information on their website.

For those who want to export animals, animal products or fodder to other countries at the Swedish Board of Agriculture (in Swedish)

The Swedish Board of Agriculture also has a compilation page on the export of plants, plant products, wood, soil and fertilizer.

Trade in wood, wood products and wood packaging at the Swedish Board of Agriculture (in Swedish)

You can turn to Business Sweden when you need help with information regarding global sales, different countries' markets, local legislation and business climate.

About exports at Business Sweden

It is common for the importing country to require the product or animal to be accompanied by an export certificate/health certificate. If your facility and product meet the requirements set by the importing country, the certificate can be used. The same also applies to the export of live animals. The certificate is issued at the exporting facility by personnel from the responsible authority that supervises the facility.

When it comes to exporting food, the National Food Agency or a municipality is responsible for issuing export certificates/health certificates.

About export certificates at the National Food Agency (in Swedish)

Training for food companies at the National Food Agency (in Swedish)

If it concerns the export of live animals, animal products and feed, the Swedish Board for Agriculture is responsible for issuing export certificates/health certificates.

For those who want to export animals, animal products or feed to other countries with the Swedish Board of Agriculture (in Swedish)

When exporting plants and plant products, it is common for the importing country to require that the shipment be accompanied by a health certificate. The Swedish Board of Agriculture is responsible for issuing health certificates.

Export of plants and plant products at the Swedish Agency for Agriculture 

If you are exporting fish, there are special rules that apply.

Contact the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (in Swedish)

Some products can not be exported to all countries. This is due to the fact that the importing country requires that Sweden is first approved as the exporting country, and sometimes also that the facilities the products come from are approved. This is a process that takes a long time.

If you want your company or facilities to be approved for export, then you will need to contact Swedish public authorities. The same applies if you want Sweden to be approved as the exporting country by a country that does not currently receive imports of our products.

Contact the National Food Agency if you want to export food (in Swedish)

If you encounter difficulties in finding what you need in the compilations, you should first contact someone in the country you want to export to, to find out what is applicable. If you already have contacts with your intended customers, then feel free to start there – if they have experience with importing from Sweden or other EU countries, they probably already know a quite lot about the applicable rules and regulations.

It is also possible to contact the country’s embassy in Stockholm. Alternatively, the Swedish embassy or consulate in the recipient country.

Contact Swedish embassies or consulates abroad at Swedenabroad.com (in Swedish)