Under the new measures, imports of ARA oil — a fatty acid supplement added to many formulas to better mimic breastmilk — must be accompanied by official certificates and lab results demonstrating the absence of cereulide prior to entry into the EU. Shipments will also be subjected to physical and identity checks at an elevated rate, with border authorities inspecting around 50% of consignments arriving from China over the coming weeks to ensure compliance and protect public health.

The tightened border controls reflect Brussels’ finding that the Chinese-origin ingredient “is likely to constitute a serious risk for human health” without adequate screening, prompting this immediate regulatory action to prevent unsafe ARA oil from entering the European market. The Commission published the new regulation in the EU Official Journal, signalling a swift policy shift in response to the food-safety crisis.

Major infant formula producers such as Nestlé, Danone and Lactalis have already suspended supplies from the Chinese supplier identified in the contamination incident, and the new EU controls aim to reinforce those industry-led actions with mandatory public-health safeguards at customs checkpoints. EU health and disease prevention agencies have also noted that the risk of exposure to the toxin is currently low thanks to recalls and other measures, but continued vigilance is essential to maintain safety standards.