The European Court of Justice has declared illegal under European Union (EU) freedom of trade legislation Sweden’s health controls on meat and dairy products imported from other EU member states.

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Judges stressed that the point of directive 89/662/EEC on veterinary checks is these are carried out within a country of origin, not destination. But Sweden insists an importer must give its food control authorities at least 24 hours’ notice of the arrival of certain products, including their destination address.


Controlled products are milk and milk products not heat-treated, eggs, meat and preparations not heat-treated, and “all other products (considered) likely to entail a health risk” by Swedish regulators.

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