Jinan Zhuocheng Bio-Tech Co., Ltd.

Chinese Exporters Face New Compliance Challenges in Global Markets

Recently, the European Union, Colombia, and New Zealand have issued a series of notifications concerning agricultural products, veterinary drugs, antimicrobial management, and residue control requirements. These regulatory updates are expected to create new compliance challenges for exporters of animal products, veterinary medicines, and related industries. Chinese enterprises involved in livestock, aquaculture, honey, animal by-products, and veterinary pharmaceutical exports are advised to closely monitor regulatory changes and strengthen compliance preparations in advance.

EU Strengthens Antimicrobial Control, Raising Entry Requirements for Animal-Derived Products

According to the World Trade Organization (WTO) notifications, the European Union has issued SPS-EU-953 regarding restrictions on the use of certain antimicrobial substances, further strengthening its regulatory framework for animal-derived product imports and antimicrobial use management.

Under the notification, the EU plans to integrate existing import eligibility lists for animal-derived products, adding 21 compliant exporting countries while simultaneously withdrawing import eligibility for certain categories of products from Brazil.

The regulation will also introduce stricter controls on antimicrobial use in livestock production. Particular attention will be given to antimicrobial agents used for growth promotion and those classified as critically important for treating specific human infections.

In addition, the EU plans to introduce stricter sourcing requirements for products such as eggs and aquatic products, including restrictions on the origin of raw materials used in production.

The regulation is expected to officially enter into force on September 3, 2026.

Industry experts note that the updated EU requirements will further increase compliance barriers for animal-derived product imports. Chinese exporters of livestock products, aquatic products, honey, and animal casings should strengthen veterinary drug management at the farm level, improve medication traceability systems, and prepare for increased competition from newly approved exporting countries.

Colombia Restricts Critical Antimicrobials, Requiring Exporters to Adjust Products and Labels

Colombia has issued SPS-COL-427 regarding restrictions on veterinary use of medically important antimicrobials, further tightening controls on veterinary antimicrobial products.

According to the notification, Colombia plans to prohibit the production, import, registration, and use of 36 categories of medically important antimicrobial substances in veterinary applications. Products manufactured exclusively for export markets will be exempt from the restrictions.

Meanwhile, stricter management measures will apply to several important antimicrobial classes. Veterinary products containing quinolones, third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, and phosphonic acid derivatives will require mandatory warning labels and may only be used as alternative treatment options. Their use for growth promotion purposes will be strictly prohibited.

Chinese veterinary pharmaceutical exporters should proactively review product formulations, update product labels and regulatory documents, and strengthen clinical antimicrobial sensitivity data to minimize potential export disruptions.

New Zealand Proposes Stricter MRL Standards, Raising Requirements for Enrofloxacin Products

New Zealand has released SPS-NZL-792 regarding proposed maximum residue limits (MRLs) for agricultural and veterinary drugs, introducing stricter residue control requirements.

Among the proposed changes, New Zealand plans to establish maximum residue limits for enrofloxacin in edible tissues of cattle and pigs, as well as in milk, within the range of 0.02–0.07 mg/kg.

The proposed limits are significantly stricter than China’s current national standards, where enrofloxacin-related residue limits are generally set within the range of 0.1–0.3 mg/kg.

A key difference is that China and many international standards regulate fluoroquinolone residues based on the combined amount of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, while New Zealand’s proposal adopts a single-compound measurement approach for enrofloxacin, resulting in tighter residue control requirements.

Relevant exporters should strengthen veterinary drug use management, optimize withdrawal period controls, and enhance residue monitoring programs to prevent potential trade disruptions.

Global Veterinary Regulation Trends Highlight the Importance of Compliance Upgrades

Industry analysts believe that global regulation of agricultural products and animal-derived foods is becoming increasingly stringent. Countries and regions are strengthening antimicrobial management, tightening residue limits, and improving import control systems to promote safer and more sustainable agricultural production.

For Chinese veterinary pharmaceutical companies and animal product exporters, international competitiveness will increasingly depend not only on production capacity and pricing advantages but also on regulatory compliance, quality management systems, and supply chain transparency.

Going forward, companies should closely track changes in international regulations, strengthen export registration management, improve quality control systems, and establish effective risk monitoring mechanisms.

By enhancing global compliance capabilities, Chinese enterprises can better overcome trade barriers and maintain stable growth in overseas markets.