Import of food products

The page was last modified: 2023-03-21

This aggregated information from various different public authorities is aimed at you who plan to import food for commercial use. The rules and procedures differ depending upon whether you intend to trade with countries within the EU or outside the EU. These rules are intended to protect EU producers against low-priced imports and EU citizens against diseases and noxious pests.

For those who want to purchase food for private consumption, other rules are applicable. Further information can be found via the following links.

EU Member States

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.

Within the EU

Rules relating to animal-based food for human consumption

Animal food

Products of animal origin introduced into Sweden from other EU countries must come from approved establishments. Lists of approved establishments can be found via the European Commission’s website.

European Commission — approved establishments in EU member states

EU-approved establishments in Sweden (in Swedish)

Marketing standards

The EU’s marketing standards are a kind of quality and product description. If you intend to trade any of the products below, follow the link and investigate if yours is subject to any marketing standards.

Trade standards for eggs

Trade standards for fishery products (in Swedish)

Salmonella guarantees

In order to avoid the transmission of salmonella in animal-based food and egggs. there are special rules for “salmonella guarantees.” The rules entail that certain goods must be approved in sampling before they may be imported into the country. In the case of eggs, certificates of Salmonella examination of laying flocks shall follow the consignment.

Rules for plant-based food for human consumption

Marketing standards

The EU’s marketing standards are a kind of quality and product description. If you intend to trade in any of the products below, follow the links and investigate which marketing standards your particular product is encompassed within.

Marketing standards for fruit and vegetables (in Swedish)

Marketing standards for olive oil (in Swedish)

This is what you’ll need to look up

Does your product contain ingredients/components that are a threat to endangered animals or plants? Trade in endangered species is restricted, in accordance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES Convention).

Check to see if your product is encompassed within the CITES Convention, on the National Food Agency’s website

Is your product a medicinal drug?

Many products are located in the grey zone in-between being a food or a medicinal product. A medicinal product is something that is used to prevent, treat or diagnose diseases/illnesses in humans and/or animals. When making your assessment, look into the product’s content and the seller’s description. A medicinal product must be approved or registered with the Swedish Medical Products Agency before it can be marketed and offered for sale.

Check if your product is a medicinal product, on the Swedish Medical Products Agency’s website (in Swedish)

Will your product be transported with wooden packaging from Portugal or Spain?

If your product is to be shipped with some kind of beechwood wood product from Portugal or parts of Spain, it must be treated in order to comply with the ISPM 15 standard. The purpose of this is to prevent the spread of forest pests.

Start-up and register your company

If you do not already have a company, it’s high time to start one now. You can use checklists to help you to choose the form of business and structure, to formulate a business plan, and to register your company.

Those who have a company need to register and make notifications regarding the company in several places in order to be able to be engaged in trade with foodstuffs.

Register with the Swedish Board of Agriculture

The Swedish Board of Agriculture checks that foodstuffs in Sweden complies with the EU’s requirements for quality and origin labelling of fruit and vegetables. You will need to pay a fee for the quality control inspection.

Register your business

You will need to register your business. Contact your municipality offices, usually the environmental management department, and find out how to do this.

Get ready for the Swedish market

Mark and label your product

Before you can sell your product on the Swedish market, the product must fulfil certain requirements concerning quality and labelling. You and your company are responsible for inspecting and approving the product. our control authority will then conducts random checks in order to ensure compliance with the rules.

Fishery and aquaculture products such as sea vegetables and algae are subject to special marking and labelling rules.

Affiliate with a return system for bottles and metal cans

Plastic bottles and metal cans, for instance for beer, wine, water and soft drinks, must be included in an approved return system before they may be offered for sale in Sweden. The bottles and cans must be marked with the return system they are encompassed within, along with the amount of the deposit that is refunded when they are returned.

Would you like to know more?

In addition to what you have already read, there is much more information available:

If you still have any questions, we will gladly assist in straightening them out (in Swedish)

Livsmedelsverket/National Food Agency

Telephone no.: 018-17 55 00

Swedish Board of Agriculture

Telephone no.: 0771-223 22

Outside the EU

Rules relating to animal-based food for human consumption

Approved countries and facilities for animal-based food for human consumption

Before a non-EU country is to export food of animal origin (meat, fish, milk, eggs or honey) to the EU, the country must be approved by the European Commission. The facilities in the country of origin must also be approved by the European Commission.

Check on the European Commission’s website to see if the country and facilities are approved for export of animal-based food for human consumption

Those who trade with suppliers/customers in Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein do not need to check the country or facility. The EU has entered into a special trade agreement with these countries, which allows them to essentially be regarded as an EU country when it comes to trading in animal-based food for human consumption. Note that if you import a product and then resell it to another EU country or country that has trade agreements with the EU, then the first EU country where the goods pass is to carry out border control.

Special protective measures for animal-based food for human consumption

The EU Commission sometimes issues rules specifically for the purpose of protecting humans and animals from contagious or harmful substances in food/feed, in order to safeguard their health. These rules may result in, for instance, import bans or requirements for special certifications. Protective measures are often directed towards certain products from a particular country.

See which protective measures are applicable for animal-based food for human consumption, on the National Food Agency’s website (in Swedish)

Rules for fish and fishery products

Catch certificates for fish and fishery products Fish and fishery products imported from third countries must be accompanied by catch certificates. The catch certificate is a type of mark of origin and its purpose is to prevent illegal fishing and to promote long-term and sustainable fish stocks.

Read more about importing fish, on the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management’s website (in Swedish)
Trading standards for fishery products EU trade standards for fishery products are a kind of quality and product description.

Read more about the marketing standards for fishery products, on the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s website (in Swedish)
Statistics document for swordfish and bigeye tuna Those who intend to import swordfish or bigeye tuna need a special statistics document.

Contact the Swedish Board of Agriculture for more information

Rules for honey

Those who want to import honey need to be aware of some special rules.

Special rules for composite foodstuffs

Foods containing both animal and vegetable ingredients are called “composite foodstuffs.” There are special rules for composite products intended for human consumption.

Rules for plant-based food for human consumption

Special protective measures for plant-based food for human consumption

See the safeguard measures applicable to plant-based food for human consumption on the National Food Agency’s website (in Swedish)

Phytosanitary Policy - plant protection rules

The purpose of the phytosanitary policy, commonly referred to as “plant protection rules,” is to prevent plant diseases and plant pests from spreading. The rules imply a ban on imports of certain fruits and vegetables from some countries and requirements for health certificates for certain fruits, vegetables and cereals from some countries. A health certificate certifies that the product is free from the plant pests regulated by the EU on importation.

Marketing standards for fruit and vegetables

EU trade standards for fresh fruits and vegetables are a kind of quality and product description.

The National Food Agency’s list of fruits and vegetables subject to a prohibition on sale

The National Food Agency has a list of fruits and vegetables that contain pesticides at excessive levels. These goods may not be sold without the consent of the National Food Agency.

Check to see your particular product is on the Swedish National Food Agency’s list on the National Food Agency’s website (in Swedish)

Special rules for composite foodstuffs

Foods containing both animal and vegetable ingredients are called “composite foodstuffs.” There are special rules for composite products intended for human consumption.

Import license for certain goods

An import license may be required to trade with certain items. There are two types of import licenses: standard licenses and licenses linked to tariff quotas.

Those who want to import rice, cereals and garlic may need a standard license.

There are also licences that are linked to tariff quotas. With them, you can pay lower taxes.

This is what you’ll need to look up

Is your product organic?

In order to import a consignment of organic food from a non-EU country, it must be accompanied by a certificate of inspection (COI). The certificate confirms that the product has been produced and checked in a manner equivalent to the rules for organic production in the EU. The certificate of verification is drawn up in the TRACES NT (TRAde Control and Expert System New Technology) web system and signed by the producer’s control authority or control body before the consignment leaves the country of dispatch.

In order to import organic products, the importer must be notified to the NFA and be connected to a control body in Sweden. The notification requirement to the NFA applies only to companies that were not affiliated to a control body before 1 January 2022.

The importer must also register and his company in the TRACES.NT web system, where all organic import consignments are handled.

For organic goods for which a CHED-D or CHED-P is required, checks shall always be carried out at a border inspection post. Other organic products are checked at one of the National Food Agency’s places of release for free circulation.

Before an import consignment of organic food can be cleared by Swedish Customs, the inspection certificate must have been verified by the National Food Agency’s border control.

Norway has signed a trade agreement with the EU. This means that organic food from Norway, or organic food that has undergone border control in Norway, does not need to be bordered in Sweden.

Importing organic food on the National Food Agency’s website (in Swedish)

Booking of controls when importing organic food (Foodverket.se)

Those who trade with Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein do not need a license or authorisation; this is due to that the EU has entered into a special trade agreement with these countries.

Does your product contain ingredients/components that are a threat to endangered animals or plants?

Trade in endangered species is restricted, in accordance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES Convention).

Is your product a medicinal drug?

Many products are located in the grey zone in-between being a food or a medicinal product. A medicinal product is something that is used to prevent, treat or diagnose diseases/illnesses in humans and/or animals. When making your assessment, look for the product’s content and the seller’s description. A medicinal product must be approved or registered with the Swedish Medical Products Agency before it can be marketed and offered for sale.

Check if your product is a medicinal product on the Swedish Medical Products Agency’s website (in Swedish)

Will your product be transported with wood packaging?

If your product is to be shipped with any kind of wood packaging, you should ensure that the wood is treated and labelled according to the ISMP 15 Standard. This is a requirement for importation to the EU, the purpose being to prevent the spread of plant pests.

Calculate customs duties and other charges

Keep in mind that the final cost when importing a product will be more than the purchase price of the product alone. Both customs duties and VAT will be added. The customs duties is calculated on the basis of the customs value of the goods if the goods have so-called value duty. The customs fee is calculated as a percentage of the customs value. The customs value of the goods are the purchase price of the product plus shipping and insurance costs up to the entry point to the EU.

When it comes to food, weight duty is also common. The customs duty is calculated on the weight of the goods. Sometimes there is both value and weight duty for the same item. The customs duty rate depends on the commodity code of the product. You can find the commodity code by classifying your product. The commodity codes are found in the Customs Tariff at tullverket.se. You can receive assistance in classifying the goods by contacting the Swedish Customs at 0771-520 520.

Search for commodity codes and calculate the customs value of your goods at the Swedish Customs’ website

Lower customs duty with a certificate of origin

The EU has entered into free trade agreements with a number of countries, resulting in certain goods being charged lower customs duties, or no customs duty at all, when importing them. In order to be able to take advantage of such an agreement, the product must have its origination in that country and you will need to present a certificate of origin.

Lower customs duties with a tariff quota

You may be able to pay less or no customs duties on certain goods during certain periods by applying for a part of a tariff quota. Such an application is made directly in your customs declaration.

Certain tariff quotas are referred to as “license quotas”. This means that you need to apply for a license in order to qualify for the quota.

There are also standard licenses that are not linked to tariff quotas. There are licenses that are required before importing certain plant-based food for human consumption. Learn more about standard licenses under the “Rules for plant-based food for human consumption.”

Charges for border inspection

You may be required to pay various fees for the inspection of your product at the border.

The National Food Agency will charge fees for sampling, analysis and document verification. Payment to the Swedish National Food Agency is made either by way of advance payment or via providing a bank guarantee.

The Swedish Board of Agriculture is responsible for the plant-health check and quality control of fresh vegetables and fruits. You pay the Swedish Board of Agriculture ‘s fees in connection with your customs declaration and clearance.

Find out the charges for your product in the Customs Tariff on Swedish Customs’ website (in Swedish)

Start-up and register your company

If you do not already have a company, it’s high time to start one now. You can use checklists to help you choose the form of business and structure, to formulate a business plan, and to register your company.

Those who own a company, need to register and make notifications about the company and file reports in several places in order to engage in the importation of food.

Register with the Swedish Board of Agriculture

Those who import certain types of fruits, vegetables and cereals from outside the EU need to register with the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

Register with the municipality’s environmental management department

You will need to register with the municipality’s environmental management department.

Contact your municipality offices and find out how it works where you live

Register with Swedish Customs´ e-services

You can send your customs declarations to Swedish Customs electronically via Swedish Customs’ e-services.

Learn more about electronic customs declarations and register at the Swedish Customs’ website (in Swedish)

Apply for deferred payment facilities

You can choose to pay customs duties and other taxes in arrears, and receive up to 30 days of credit.

Register with Swedish Customs

You can send your customs declarations to Swedish Customs electronically via Swedish Customs’ Internet filing “TID.”

Sign up for Traces

Those who trade with foodstuffs that are going to undergo the Food Safety Agency’s border inspection need to register this in the EU Trace database.

Goods at the border

Pre-register your goods

Before your shipment reaches the Swedish border, you need to Pre-register that it is on its way. You do this differently depending on the type of product you are importing.

Animal-based food for human consumption

Within 24 hours before your shipment reaches the Swedish border, you need to Pre-register that it is on its way, in the Traces e-service. The consignment must be subjected to a border inspection at a border inspection post. Sweden’s border inspection posts may only receive packaged foodstuffs.

Plant-based food for human consumption is subject to and encompassed within special protective measures

At least one day before your shipment reaches the Swedish border, you need to Pre-register that it is on its way, in the Traces e-service. Certain plant-based food for human consumption must undergo a border inspection at one of the EU border inspection posts.

Fruit, vegetables and cereals subject to quality control or a plant-health check

By 13:00 at the latest before your shipment reaches the Swedish border, you need to Pre-register that it is on the way, in the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s e-service Register Imports.

The importer may be required to pay for an analysis

When there is a requirement for sampling and analysis, it is sometimes the importer who is responsible for that cost.

Fees and payments on imports of animal food on the National Food Agency´s website (in Swedish)

Fees and payment on the import of vegetable food on the National Food Agency´s website (in Swedish)

Declare your goods

Processing at Customs

Once your product has arrived in Sweden, it is placed in a temporary warehouse and you will be notified by the warehouse that the product has arrived. In order to be able to collect the goods, you will need to submit a customs declaration and pay customs duties and other charges. If your company is VAT registered, you will need to remit the VAT you report in a VAT return to the Swedish Tax Agency. If your company is not registered for VAT, you will pay the VAT to Swedish Customs.

Fees can be paid in cash, by credit/debit card, or after receiving a customs invoice. In order to be able to defer payment and pay via a customs invoice, you will need to have a been granted deferred payment facilities from Swedish Customs.

The customs declaration can be submitted electronically or on a paper form.

You can choose to file the customs declaration yourself or with the assistance of a customs broker. Keep in mind that the customs broker must be registered with Swedish Customs. Also, keep in mind that you always remain responsible for the accuracy of the information in the customs declaration, even if you use a customs broker. Once the customs declaration is approved by Swedish Customs, you have completed the importation of your product. You can now arrange for your product to be picked up and sell it further.

Get ready for the Swedish market

Mark and label your product

Before you can sell your product on the Swedish market, the product must fulfil certain requirements concerning quality and labelling. You and your company are responsible for inspecting and approving the product. Your control authority will then conducts random checks in order to ensure compliance with the rules.

How to mark and label your product on the National Food Agency’s website (in Swedish)

Fishery and aquaculture products such as sea vegetables and algae are subject to special marking and labelling rules