EU revises import certificate for Canadian fresh pork and adds antimicrobial-use attestation
Importers of Canadian fresh pork and certifying authorities must use the new EU model certificate, including a mandatory antimicrobial-use attestation, for consignments entering from 3 September 2026
Change
On 23 June 2026, the European Commission adopted Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1375 replacing the model animal health/official certificate for imports of fresh meat of domestic porcine animals from Canada and inserting a mandatory antimicrobial-use attestation, in force 20 days after publication with a transition to 3 December 2026.
Why it matters
The Decision replaces Annex II to Decision 2005/290/EC with a new model certificate (CA-POR) and inserts an attestation that the animals were not administered antimicrobials for growth promotion or yield increase, nor antimicrobials reserved for treating certain human infections, as required by Regulation (EU) 2019/6 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/905. The public health attestation is simplified on the basis of CETA equivalence, while the animal health attestation replicates MODEL POR. Certificates under the old model remain accepted only if issued no later than 3 September 2026, during a transition ending 3 December 2026; the antimicrobial attestation applies to consignments entering from 3 September 2026.
Implications
- — Official veterinarians and certifying authorities in Canada issuing certificates for fresh porcine meat bound for the Union must switch to the new CA-POR model certificate — certificates under the old model are accepted only if issued no later than 3 September 2026 and used within the transition ending 3 December 2026.
- — EU importers and border-control posts handling Canadian fresh pork must confirm consignments entering from 3 September 2026 carry the new mandatory antimicrobial-use attestation (no growth-promotion antimicrobials and no human-reserved antimicrobials per Regulation (EU) 2022/1255) — consignments without it do not meet the entry conditions.
- — Canadian pork establishments and exporters must ensure their production and record-keeping evidence the antimicrobial-use conditions so the official certificate can be issued — animals treated with the restricted antimicrobials cannot be certified for entry into the Union.
Who is affected
- — Official veterinarians and certifying authorities in Canada
- — EU importers and border-control posts handling Canadian fresh pork
- — Canadian pork establishments and exporters to the Union
What to watch
- — 3 September 2026: old-model certificates must have been issued by this date; the mandatory antimicrobial-use attestation applies to consignments entering the Union from this date.
- — 3 December 2026: transitional acceptance of old-model certificates ends; the CA-POR model certificate becomes the only accepted certificate.