In a written answer on 14 July 2026, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Olivér Várhelyi defended the EU's import control framework, stressing that the Commission has already increased audits of non-EU countries by 50% in 2026 and that existing legislation ensures standardised reporting by Member States. The response, to a question by MEP Alexander Bernhuber (PPE), aims to reassure stakeholders—particularly EU fruit and vegetable producers facing competition from imports—that controls are being tightened without new binding measures.
The answer notes that the 2026 audit programme prioritises countries and commodities based on risk, covering microbiological risks, contaminants, pesticide residues and plant health. However, Várhelyi did not provide the specific country-by-country audit numbers or product categories requested by Bernhuber. On reporting standardisation, the Commissioner pointed to Regulation (EU) 2017/625, which already requires Member States to record control results in the TRACES platform, enabling real-time reports. He therefore saw no need for additional binding measures. Regarding compliance with check frequencies under Regulation (EU) 2019/1793, Várhelyi stated that implementation by Member States is satisfactory, without naming any Member State that fell short.
The answer signals a policy orientation favouring existing tools and gradual improvement rather than new legislation. Under the Vision for Agriculture and Food, the Commission plans to establish a task force to make import controls more efficient, focusing on pesticide residues and considering coordinated EU action on specific imported products. Institutional follow-up is expected as the task force develops proposals, though no timeline was given. The response leaves open the possibility of future targeted measures but avoids concrete commitments on binding standardisation or enforcement gaps.