Trade compliance
Regulation & restricted items
Requirements that commonly apply to the products buyers request through Global B2B Group — fresh produce, fish and shrimp, caviar, poultry and eggs, and machinery — with the competent authority and a link to the official source for each. Our team checks every request against the applicable rules before any supplier contact.
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35 records shown.
- Case-by-case regulatory review requiredAny product · Any destination · origin: any
Sanctions and restricted-party screening
Countries, regions, companies and people can be subject to sanctions that prohibit or restrict trade, payments or services. Every request, listing and introduction is screened against the official lists before it moves forward; a match or an unclear result stops the file until it is resolved.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Full legal names and addresses of buyer, supplier, consignee and end user
- Countries of origin, transit and destination
- Intended end use
- Ownership details where relevant
Competent authority: US Treasury (OFAC); European Union (Council / Commission); UK Government (FCDO, OFSI); UN Security Council
Official sources
- US Treasury (OFAC) — Sanctions programs and country information
- OFAC — Sanctions List Search
- EU Sanctions Map (European Union)
- GOV.UK — The UK Sanctions List
- United Nations Security Council — Consolidated List
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- Case-by-case regulatory review requiredMachinery & production lines · Any destination · origin: any
Export controls on machinery, components and technology (dual-use)
Some machinery, components, software and technology are controlled for export. Whether an export authorisation is needed depends on the item's classification, the destination and the end use, so each machinery request is checked before supplier outreach.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Technical specification and classification of the item
- End-use / end-user information
- Export authorisation where required
Competent authority: EU: national export-control authorities under Regulation (EU) 2021/821; US: Bureau of Industry and Security (EAR)
Official sources
- European Commission — Exporting dual-use items
- Regulation (EU) 2021/821 — dual-use export controls (EUR-Lex)
- US Bureau of Industry and Security — Export Administration Regulations
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- Licence, permit or official approval requiredCaviar & sturgeon products · Any destination · origin: any
Caviar and sturgeon products — CITES permits
Sturgeon and paddlefish (Acipenseriformes) are covered by CITES. International trade in caviar needs the CITES permits or certificates required for the species, and caviar containers must be labelled under the CITES caviar labelling rules. The listing of the exact species decides whether commercial trade is possible at all.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- CITES export permit (or re-export certificate) from the exporting country
- Import permit where the destination requires it
- CITES caviar labelling on each container
- Species and source declaration
Competent authority: CITES management authorities of the exporting and importing countries
Official sources
- Council Regulation (EC) 338/97 — EU wildlife trade rules (EUR-Lex)
- GOV.UK — Check if you need a CITES permit to import or export
- US Fish & Wildlife Service — Information for importers and exporters
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- Licence, permit or official approval requiredFish & seafood (incl. shrimp) · European Union · origin: any
EU — fishery products, including shrimp
Fishery products enter the EU only from third countries listed for that product and from approved, listed establishments or vessels. Consignments travel with an official certificate, are pre-notified in TRACES and are checked at a border control post. Wild-caught marine fishery products also need a catch certificate validated by the flag state under the EU rules against illegal fishing; from 10 January 2026 EU operators and authorities must use the CATCH IT system for these imports.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Official health certificate
- Common Health Entry Document (CHED) in TRACES
- Catch certificate (wild-caught products)
- Labelling in line with EU food information rules
Competent authority: European Commission and EU member-state border control posts; flag-state authority for catch certificates
Official sources
- European Commission — Import controls on food and feed (Q&A)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 — lists of third countries (EUR-Lex)
- European Commission — TRACES
- European Commission — Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
- Council Regulation (EC) 1005/2008 — IUU catch certification (EUR-Lex)
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- Licence, permit or official approval requiredPoultry & eggs · European Union · origin: any
EU — poultry meat, eggs and egg products
Products of animal origin, including poultry meat, eggs and egg products, are admitted only from third countries (and, where relevant, zones) listed for the commodity and from approved establishments, with official certificates and border checks. Listings can change with the animal-health situation, so eligibility is confirmed for each consignment.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Official health certificate
- CHED in TRACES
- Establishment approval / listing reference
Competent authority: European Commission and EU member-state border control posts
Official sources
- European Commission — Import controls on food and feed (Q&A)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 — lists of third countries (EUR-Lex)
- European Commission — TRACES
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- Licence, permit or official approval requiredFresh fruit & vegetables · European Union · origin: any
EU — fresh fruit and vegetables (plant health and residues)
Under the EU Plant Health Regulation, many fresh fruits and vegetables need a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country and are subject to plant-health checks; some plants and plant products are prohibited or must meet special requirements depending on origin. Pesticide residues must stay within EU maximum residue levels.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Phytosanitary certificate (where required)
- Pre-notification and border checks where required
- Residue and quality evidence agreed with the buyer
Competent authority: European Commission; national plant protection organisations of the exporting country and EU member states
Official sources
- Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 — plant health (EUR-Lex)
- Regulation (EC) 396/2005 — maximum residue levels (EUR-Lex)
- European Commission — Import controls on food and feed (Q&A)
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- Restricted — conditions applyAll food products · European Union · origin: any
EU — food information and labelling
Food sold in the EU must carry the mandatory food information set by Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, in a language easily understood by consumers where it is marketed. Labels are agreed per market before shipment.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Label artwork with mandatory particulars
- Allergen and origin information where required
Competent authority: European Union; member-state food authorities
Official sources
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- Restricted — conditions applyMachinery & production lines · European Union · origin: any
EU — machinery placed on the market under Directive 2006/42/EC
Until the Machinery Regulation applies, machinery placed on the EU market follows Directive 2006/42/EC: conformity assessment, CE marking, an EU declaration of conformity, technical documentation and instructions. The Directive is repealed with effect from 14 January 2027.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- EU declaration of conformity
- CE marking
- Technical file and instructions
- Food-contact material declarations for parts touching food
Competent authority: Manufacturer / importer obligations; EU market surveillance authorities
Official sources
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 on machinery (EUR-Lex)
- Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 — food contact materials (EUR-Lex)
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- Licence, permit or official approval requiredAll food products · United Kingdom (Great Britain) · origin: any
Great Britain — animal products, fish, shrimp, poultry and eggs
Importers or their agents notify imports of animals, animal products, food and feed through IPAFFS. The Border Target Operating Model sets the risk category of each commodity, which decides the health certificate and border checks needed.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- IPAFFS import notification
- Health certificate where the risk category requires it
- Documents for border checks
Competent authority: UK Government (Defra / APHA) and border control posts
Official sources
- GOV.UK — Import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS)
- GOV.UK — The Border Target Operating Model
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- Licence, permit or official approval requiredFresh fruit & vegetables · United Kingdom (Great Britain) · origin: any
Great Britain — fresh fruit and vegetables
Plants and plant products from non-EU countries follow plant-health rules that depend on their risk category, including phytosanitary certificates where required. Most fruit and vegetables must also meet marketing standards; some need a certificate of conformity.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Phytosanitary certificate where required
- IPAFFS notification where required
- Certificate of conformity for Specific Marketing Standard produce
Competent authority: UK Government (Defra / APHA); Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate and equivalents
Official sources
- GOV.UK — Import plants and plant products from non-EU countries to Great Britain
- GOV.UK — Importing and exporting fresh fruit and vegetables
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- Restricted — conditions applyAll food products · United States · origin: any
United States — Prior Notice and importer verification for food
FDA must receive Prior Notice of food shipments imported into the United States, and importers covered by the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) rule must verify their foreign suppliers' food safety controls.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- FDA Prior Notice confirmation
- FSVP records held by the importer
- Product and supplier documentation for FDA review
Competent authority: US Food and Drug Administration (FDA); US Customs and Border Protection
Official sources
- FDA — Prior Notice of Imported Foods
- FDA — FSMA Final Rule on Foreign Supplier Verification Programs
- US Customs and Border Protection — Basic import and export
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- Licence, permit or official approval requiredFish & seafood (incl. shrimp) · United States · origin: any
United States — fish and shrimp
Fish and fishery products must be processed under FDA seafood HACCP rules. Species groups in NOAA's Seafood Import Monitoring Program, which includes shrimp, need reporting and recordkeeping, and the importer needs an International Fisheries Trade Permit. All shrimp imports must be accompanied by a DS-2031 declaration, and wild-caught shrimp must meet the Section 609 sea-turtle requirements.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Seafood HACCP records from the processor
- NOAA International Fisheries Trade Permit (importer)
- SIMP harvest and chain-of-custody data
- DS-2031 Shrimp Exporter's/Importer's Declaration
Competent authority: FDA; NOAA Fisheries; US Department of State
Official sources
- eCFR — 21 CFR Part 123, Fish and fishery products
- NOAA Fisheries — Seafood Import Monitoring Program
- NOAA Fisheries — International Fisheries Trade Permit
- US Department of State — Sea turtles, shrimp imports and Section 609
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- Case-by-case regulatory review requiredFresh fruit & vegetables · United States · origin: any
United States — fresh fruit and vegetables
USDA APHIS regulates imports of fruits and vegetables to protect US agriculture. Admissibility, permits and phytosanitary conditions are set per commodity and origin, so a product cannot be assumed admissible from a given country until the APHIS requirements for that combination are confirmed.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- APHIS import permit where required
- Phytosanitary certificate where required
- Treatment or inspection records where required
Competent authority: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Official sources
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- Licence, permit or official approval requiredPoultry & eggs · United States · origin: any
United States — poultry and egg products
FSIS states that only products from certified countries and foreign establishments are eligible for import, and countries must show their inspection systems are equivalent to the US system. Eligibility is confirmed for the country, establishment and product before any offer.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Foreign inspection certificate
- Eligible establishment reference
Competent authority: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
Official sources
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- Licence, permit or official approval requiredCaviar & sturgeon products · United States · origin: any
United States — caviar and other wildlife products
Wildlife imports, including caviar, are declared to the US Fish & Wildlife Service on Form 3-177; commercial importers generally need a USFWS import/export licence, and CITES-listed species need the related permits.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- USFWS Declaration (Form 3-177)
- USFWS import/export licence (commercial importers)
- CITES documents
Competent authority: US Fish & Wildlife Service (Office of Law Enforcement)
Official sources
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- Licence, permit or official approval requiredAll food products · China · origin: any
China — registration of overseas food manufacturers (GACC Decree 280)
Overseas producers, processors and storage facilities of food exported to China must be registered with the General Administration of Customs (GACC). GACC Decree 280 applies from 1 June 2026 and replaces Decree 248; some product categories also need a recommendation from the exporting country's authority.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- GACC registration number of the producing / storage facility
- Competent-authority recommendation where required
- Export health certificate where required
Competent authority: General Administration of Customs of China (GACC)
Official sources
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- Case-by-case regulatory review requiredAll food products · Canada · origin: any
Canada — food imports
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency sets the rules for food imports, including licences, preventive control plans, traceability and import permits. Which of these apply depends on the product and importer and is confirmed per request.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Licence where required
- Preventive control plan and traceability records
- Import permit where required
Competent authority: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Official sources
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- Licence, permit or official approval requiredAll food products · South Korea · origin: any
South Korea — Foreign food facility registration
MFDS says the actual overseas manufacturing or processing facility must be registered before the import declaration. For livestock products, registration is instead requested as a foreign establishment through the exporting government; seafood from agreement countries also uses government submission.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Foreign food facility registration application
- Exporting-country evidence of facility licensing, registration or notification
Competent authority: Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
Official sources
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- Licence, permit or official approval requiredAll food products · Singapore · origin: any
Singapore — Commercial food import licensing
SFA requires a licence for imports of meat and fish products, fresh fruits and vegetables, and shell eggs. The appropriate licence or registration depends on the food classification.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Relevant SFA import licence or registration
Competent authority: Singapore Food Agency
Official sources
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- Restricted — conditions applyPoultry & eggs · Singapore · origin: any
Singapore — Meat sourcing and egg accreditation
SFA says meat and meat products must come from SFA-approved sources and that fresh poultry falls in its meat category. Its commercial import guidance also says certain foods, including eggs, can only come from SFA-accredited overseas establishments.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Documents listed by the authority for the exact product and origin
Competent authority: Singapore Food Agency
Official sources
- SFA — Import Requirements for Food & Food Products
- SFA — What You Need to Know for Import of Food for Commercial Sale
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- Licence, permit or official approval requiredFresh fruit & vegetables · United Arab Emirates · origin: any
United Arab Emirates — Fresh produce consignment release
MOCCAE describes release approval for fresh fruits and vegetables, with inspection on arrival and visual inspection or laboratory testing where required. Its document list includes an exporting-authority phytosanitary certificate and a pesticide-residue analysis certificate for consignments from countries covered by departmental circulars.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Phytosanitary certificate
- Customs manifest, bill of lading or delivery authorization copy
- Certificate of origin if origin is not shown on the phytosanitary certificate
- Contents list or invoice
- Pesticide residue analysis certificate where required by country circulars
Competent authority: Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Official sources
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- Restricted — conditions applyAll food products · Saudi Arabia · origin: any
Saudi Arabia — Imported food border checks
SFDA describes documentary and identity checks on arriving food consignments. Physical examination checks conformity with technical regulations, standards and labelling requirements; laboratory testing applies when the inspector considers it necessary.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Certificates and documents accompanying the consignment
Competent authority: Saudi Food and Drug Authority
Official sources
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- Licence, permit or official approval requiredAll food products · India · origin: any
India — Food importer prerequisites
FSSAI’s food import clearance FAQ lists an Import-Export Code from DGFT, an FSSAI import licence and a country-of-origin certificate as mandatory prerequisites. It separately lists additional documents that apply according to the consignment.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Import-Export Code from DGFT
- FSSAI import licence
- Country-of-origin certificate
Competent authority: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
Official sources
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- Licence, permit or official approval requiredFresh fruit & vegetables · India · origin: any
India — Agricultural commodity import procedures
PPQS says importers must apply in advance for an import permit for commodities listed in Schedules V and VI of the Plant Quarantine Order, 2003. It also describes inspection of imported agricultural commodities on arrival and sampling and testing during clearance.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Import permit for commodities listed in Schedules V and VI
Competent authority: Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage
Official sources
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- Case-by-case regulatory review requiredFresh fruit & vegetables · Mexico · origin: any
Mexico — Plant commodity requirement lookup
SENASICA provides a phytosanitary import-requirements lookup for plant-origin goods. Its search fields distinguish the product, product type, intended use and origin, so the applicable combination must be checked rather than inferred from a general produce category.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Documents listed by the authority for the exact product and origin
Competent authority: Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria
Official sources
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- Case-by-case regulatory review requiredFish & seafood (incl. shrimp) · Mexico · origin: any
Mexico — Aquatic and fishery import requirement lookup
SENASICA describes an online lookup containing sanitary measures for aquatic imports not covered by an official Mexican standard. Results are organized by commodity group, commodity, use, country of origin and country of dispatch.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Documents listed by the authority for the exact product and origin
Competent authority: Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria
Official sources
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- Case-by-case regulatory review requiredPoultry & eggs · Mexico · origin: any
Mexico — Animal-origin import requirement sheets
SENASICA’s animal-health lookup provides requirement sheets for animal-origin goods or goods intended for animals. It says the importer should arrive at the entry point with the goods and the documents listed in the applicable requirement sheet.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Documents listed in the applicable zoosanitary requirement sheet (HRZ)
Competent authority: Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria
Official sources
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- Licence, permit or official approval requiredFish & seafood (incl. shrimp) · Brazil · origin: any
Brazil — Seafood animal-origin import requirements
MAPA lists conditions for animal-origin imports: an evaluated or equivalent national inspection system, establishments eligible to export to Brazil, prior DIPOA product registration and compliant labelling. Products must be accompanied by a sanitary certificate issued by the competent authority of the origin country on bilaterally agreed terms.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Prior DIPOA product registration
- Sanitary certificate from the competent authority in the country of origin
Competent authority: Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária
Official sources
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- Licence, permit or official approval requiredPoultry & eggs · Brazil · origin: any
Brazil — Poultry and eggs animal-origin import requirements
MAPA lists conditions for animal-origin imports: an evaluated or equivalent national inspection system, establishments eligible to export to Brazil, prior DIPOA product registration and compliant labelling. Products must be accompanied by a sanitary certificate issued by the competent authority of the origin country on bilaterally agreed terms.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Prior DIPOA product registration
- Sanitary certificate from the competent authority in the country of origin
Competent authority: Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária
Official sources
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- Case-by-case regulatory review requiredAll food products · Brazil · origin: any
Brazil — Agricultural import controls and specific guidance
MAPA explains that agricultural imports involve official controls on plant health, animal health, quality and identity of animal- and plant-origin products. The page directs readers to specific import information by product category rather than setting one uniform documentary requirement.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Documents listed by the authority for the exact product and origin
Competent authority: Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária
Official sources
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- Licence, permit or official approval requiredFish & seafood (incl. shrimp) · Any destination · origin: any
CITES-listed fish and marine species
Some fish and marine species are listed under CITES. International trade in Appendix II specimens may be authorised with an export permit or re-export certificate, subject to conditions including that trade is not detrimental to the species' survival; countries may apply stricter measures. Whether a species is listed must be checked by its exact scientific name — a seafood group is not uniformly listed.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Exact scientific name of the species
- CITES export permit or re-export certificate where the species is listed
- Certificate of introduction from the sea where applicable
- Any stricter national permit of the importing country
Competent authority: CITES management authorities of the exporting and importing countries
Official sources
- CITES — The CITES Appendices
- CITES — Introduction from the sea
- CITES Checklist
- Species+ (UNEP-WCMC / CITES Secretariat)
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- ProhibitedFish & seafood (incl. shrimp) · European Union · origin: any
European eel (Anguilla anguilla) — trade outside the EU prohibited
The European Commission states that in 2010 EU countries decided to prohibit the trade of European eel outside the EU. Requests to import European eel into the EU or export it from the EU are therefore blocked. This record does not cover other eel species or trade within the EU, which need their own check.
Documents and approvals usually involved
- Not applicable — trade outside the EU is prohibited
Competent authority: European Commission; EU member states
Official sources
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Compliance and responsibilities
Global B2B Group and its platforms are committed to conducting their own activities in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Global B2B Group facilitates sourcing and requests for quotation (RFQs); it does not itself produce, manufacture, process, export or sell the products listed on this site.
Each participant is responsible for the legal requirements that apply to its own role. In general, and always subject to applicable law:
- Suppliers, producers and exporters
- are responsible for ensuring that the products and shipments they offer and supply meet the applicable product, safety, quality, licensing, certification, labelling, traceability, sanitary or phytosanitary, export, customs and documentation requirements in the origin and destination jurisdictions, where relevant.
- Buyers and importers
- remain responsible for their own import permissions and registrations, the local requirements of their market, and their own due diligence on suppliers and goods.
- Global B2B Group
- is responsible for its own services and its own legal obligations. It does not guarantee any supplier's compliance, and its review of a request is not an approval by any authority.
Examples of what may apply — depending on the product and the jurisdictions involved
- Fresh fruit and vegetables: phytosanitary certificates, any origin-specific import protocol, pesticide residue limits, grading and labelling rules, and lot traceability.
- Fish, shrimp, caviar and other seafood, including farmed seafood (FishMatch): health certificates from the competent authority, approved or listed establishments, species and catch- or farming-area labelling, catch documentation where required, and CITES permits for listed species such as sturgeon caviar.
- Poultry meat and table eggs: veterinary health certificates, approved establishments, animal-disease zoning, and marking, grading and labelling rules.
- Seeds and planting material (SeedMatch) and hatching eggs or day-old chicks (HatchMatch): variety registration or seed certification where required, phytosanitary certificates, and animal-health certificates for live animals and hatching eggs.
Requirements differ by product, origin, destination and intended use, and they change over time. No single checklist applies everywhere; the records on this page are examples with official sources, not a complete list.
This allocation applies only as far as applicable law allows. A contract cannot remove or transfer duties that the law places on any person, including Global B2B Group, and this notice does not replace legal advice. Contract terms: Terms of Service · Supplier Terms
How our team checks each request
- We identify the product, its origin, destination, transit route and intended use from the RFQ or supplier listing.
- We check sanctions and restricted parties, trade bans, licences and registrations, standards, import and export permits and certificates, labelling, safety, customs classification, transport and protected species.
- Where an official source confirms a prohibition, the request or listing does not move forward. Restricted or unclear items are held until verified.
- We record the source, the decision, who made it and when. Supplier outreach, introductions and listing approval happen only after the check is cleared.
Buyers and suppliers are responsible for giving accurate details and documents. Our checks are reasonable reviews based on official sources; they do not replace professional advice or an authority's decision. Sourcing requests start at USD 250,000 per annual or seasonal programme; buyers use the service free of charge.
Report incorrect or outdated information
Tell us which record is wrong and, if you can, link the official source. The team reviews each report and updates the record after checking it.