Moldova has been given permission to export processed poultry meat and table eggs to European countries.

The decision follows a February meeting of the Controls and import Conditions section of the Plants, Animals, Food, and Feed (PAFF) Committee, during which member states voiced their support for the EU Commission’s draft legislation to list Moldova for these animal products.

The country had submitted a Salmonella control program in flocks of laying hens in the hope of being authorized to send class A eggs to EU countries. Class A eggs are the highest quality.

Checks were assessed by the EU Commission and double-checked during an audit carried out in April 2022.

“We encourage entrepreneurs to invest in processing and production facilities with higher added value. Further improvements in the quality of products will contribute to strengthening the position of Moldovan producers in the EU market,” said the EU delegation to Moldova, which described the process to access the EU market as “complex and lengthy.” 

Discussions on the authorization of fresh poultry meat exports to the EU are ongoing with the European Commission.

The EU Commission recently published a report assessing the capacity of Moldova to meet the obligations of EU membership. Moldova applied to be a member state in March 2022. The country was found to have some level of preparation in food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy.

Control plan changes
Approval of processed poultry meat and table eggs from Moldova to European countries was one of a number of recent changes to EU legislation on consignments of food-producing animals, products of animal origin, and composite products.

The United States submitted a control plan, which covered meat casings. As it provided sufficient guarantees, EU officials said it should be approved.

Azerbaijan put forward a control plan covering roes and caviar, which was accepted. Lebanon also presented a control plan for honey. This was assessed as sufficient.

Rwanda has not provided a control plan for honey and Colombia and Syria have not submitted plans for casings, so the related listing has been removed from the legislation.

Other changes involve the Isle of Man and goat meat, Japan and pork meat, the United Kingdom and rabbit meat, and Thailand and milk.