[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":87},["ShallowReactive",2],{"pages-686bc4b0c93f9e0e2815924a":3},{"_id":4,"state":5,"name":6,"category":7,"theme":8,"components":9,"keywords":78},"686bc4b0c93f9e0e2815924a","active","Extended sustainability and nutrition standards for imported foods","discover","european_food_system_dashboard",[10,22,31,38,45,52,60],{"type":11,"index":12,"variation":13,"imageURL":14,"title":15,"description":17,"button":19},"header",0,"image_left","https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/8acbb2a1-7483-43c5-a3c4-5f587e5f3010",{"en_GB":16},"Imported foods have to comply with EU regulations",{"en_GB":18},"- Food system activity: Storage & distribution\n- Governance level: European\n- Cluster: Social equity, economic and community support\n- Origin: Poland\n- Type of policy intervention: Regulatory",{"label":20,"URL":21},{"en_GB":21},"",{"type":23,"index":24,"variation":25,"imageURL":26,"title":27,"description":29},"image_and_text",1,"image_right","https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/1c0aace6-2325-4a53-96d6-5d50235b85c7",{"en_GB":28},"Intervention Details",{"en_GB":30},"This intervention was put forward in the Polish summit and proposes to expand the current EU regulations for imported foods in terms of food safety also to healthy and sustainable food. This intervention was proposed by the Polish living lab participants, where it fit into a set of interventions on nature-based solutions that contributed to European citizens living long and healthy lives. This started with the introduction of EU regulations to subsidize nature-based solutions (see [Transition fund for farmers](https://planeatcenter.com/discover/european_food_system_dashboard/686bce2850b71cc505088e16)).  Next, the current intervention was proposed, i.e. a ban on importing food into the EU that does not meet these new European standards, so that no more unhealthy foods would be available in supermarkets. While current EU law ensures that imported food meets baseline safety and traceability requirements, this proposed intervention would broaden the scope to include alignment with the EU’s evolving goals under the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy. This could include mandatory compliance with standards on nutritional content (e.g. limits on trans fats or added sugars), environmental footprint (e.g. deforestation-free supply chains, carbon intensity, or pesticide use), and animal welfare. ",{"type":23,"index":32,"variation":13,"imageURL":33,"title":34,"description":36},2,"https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/c32b40e5-d2c2-44bb-a1ed-0e0d2ba39795",{"en_GB":35},"Examples of implementation",{"en_GB":37},"While this intervention is currently not implemented anywhere, as mentioned there is longstanding regulation in the EU on imported foods regarding safety, quality, and labelling standards having to be similar as those foods produced within the EU. This regulatory framework is grounded in Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002, also known as the General Food Law, which establishes principles for food safety, consumer protection, and traceability (European Commission, 2024). According to this law, imported foods must comply with rules concerning hygiene, pesticide residues, contaminants, origin labelling, and product composition. Implementation is coordinated through instruments like TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System), which facilitates digital tracking and certification across borders. The General Food Law applies uniformly across all 27 member states, and its practical implementation is managed through national authorities operating within a shared legal framework. ",{"type":23,"index":39,"variation":25,"imageURL":40,"title":41,"description":43},3,"https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/afec88ea-040b-4549-a51c-f75cc9a63be5",{"en_GB":42},"Key implementation challenges",{"en_GB":44},"Potential implementation challenges to extend current EU law to broaden its scope to healthy but particularly sustainable standards particularly concern political will. To illustrate, while the Farm to Fork strategy originally set out to develop ambitious targets on sustainability in agriculture, policy changes were eventually small and transformation to a more sustainable food system was limited (Candel & Daugbjerg, 2025). Moreover, another potential issue lies in fragmentation: responsibilities for food inspection and import control are often split across customs, health, agriculture, and veterinary services, which can lead to overlaps, confusion, and inefficiencies. In addition, there is variability in enforcement across member states, which can result in inconsistent enforcement of EU regulations, particularly at border posts with high volumes of imports. To address these challenges, a single legislative framework for official controls should be considered, as well as greater investment in harmonized systems, training, and cross-agency coordination (EU Monitor, 2013).",{"type":23,"index":46,"variation":13,"imageURL":47,"title":48,"description":50},4,"https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/b466ae36-722e-4837-9540-cd11b3d71ab9",{"en_GB":49},"Expert Evaluation",{"en_GB":51},"Experts rated the effectiveness of this policy intervention at an average of 3.59/5.00 (SD = 0.98), reflecting a moderately positive assessment and ranking 7th out of 20 interventions. Survey respondents argued that this intervention could help ensure a level playing field by aligning standards for imports with those applied to EU producers. They further noted that it may prevent shifting negative environmental impacts outside the EU and that standardizing requirements across supply chains could strengthen incentives for better practices. However, experts highlighted limited control over imported products as a constraint on the intervention’s potential impact, alongside concerns that compliance costs could be prohibitive for smallholder producers in low-income countries. Respondents also pointed out that it would mainly affect the import of fruits and vegetables, at a time when increased consumption of these products is encouraged for healthier diets. The average feasibility score was 3.27/5.00 (SD = 1.05), indicating a moderately positive assessment and ranking 15th overall. Experts identified several factors limiting feasibility, including opposition from large corporate actors, an unfavorable political climate, constraints related to EU free trade agreements, and varying sustainability capabilities across territories and agricultural boundaries. Survey respondents also noted a synergy with the intervention “bans and restrictions on hazardous pesticides”, as well as a trade-off with “true Cost Accounting-based sustainability tax on food”. ",{"type":53,"index":54,"variation":55,"imageURL":21,"title":56,"description":58},"title_and_text",5,"title_image_description",{"en_GB":57},"List of References",{"en_GB":59},"•\tCandel, J., Daugbjerg, C. EU Green Deal’s food system agenda fails to deliver post-exceptionalist breakthrough. Nat Food 6, 563–570 (2025). [https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-025-01174-3](https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-025-01174-3)\n\n•\tEuropean Commission. (2024). General Food Law – Regulation (EC) No 178/2002. [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32002R0178](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32002R0178)\n\n•\tEU Monitor (2013). Proposal for a Regulation on official controls – COM(2013)0265.\n[https://www.eumonitor.nl/9353000/1/j4nvhdfdk3hydzq_j9tvgajcovz8izf_j9vvik7m1c3gyxp/vjfcemx35tvq](https://www.eumonitor.nl/9353000/1/j4nvhdfdk3hydzq_j9tvgajcovz8izf_j9vvik7m1c3gyxp/vjfcemx35tvq) ",{"type":61,"index":62,"variation":63,"title":64,"contact1":66,"contact2":72,"contact3":75},"contacts",6,"title_top",{"en_GB":65},"CONTACT",{"imageURL":67,"name":68,"description":70},"https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/771281e8-fca5-4ec7-a45c-0addca312f67",{"en_GB":69},"Jeroen Candel",{"en_GB":71},"Associate professor of food and agricultural policy​",{"imageURL":21,"name":73,"description":74},{"en_GB":21},{"en_GB":21},{"imageURL":21,"name":76,"description":77},{"en_GB":21},{"en_GB":21},[79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86],"storage","distribution","european","social equity","economic and community support","poland","regulatory","policy intervention",1776437177220]