Concerns for Animals and food products

1. What about animals or animal products imported from China?

Due to the animal health situation in China, notably the presence of contagious animal diseases, only a few live animals and unprocessed animal products from China are authorised for import into the European Union. There is no evidence that any of the animals or animal products authorised for entry into the European Union pose a risk to the health of EU citizens as a result of the presence of COVID-19 in China.

2. What about food products imported from China?

As with the imports of animals and animal products, due to the animal health situation in China, only a few products of animal origin are authorised for import into the EU from China, on the condition that they meet strict health requirements and have been subjected to controls. For the same reasons, travellers entering the EU customs territory are not allowed to carry any meat, meat products, milk or dairy products in their luggage. 

There has been no report of transmission of the COVID-19 via food and therefore there is no evidence that food items imported into the European Union in accordance with the applicable animal and public health regulations governing imports from China pose a risk for the health of EU citizens in relation to COVID-19. The main mode of transmission is from one person to another.

3. What about contact with pets and other animals in the EU?

Current research links COVID-19 to certain types of bat, but does not exclude the involvement of other animals. Several types of coronaviruses can infect animals and be transmitted to other animals and people. There is no evidence that companion animals (e.g. dogs or cats) pose a risk of infection to humans. As a general precaution, it is always wise to observe basic principles of hygiene when in contact with animals.

credits to the owner:https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/novel-coronavirus-china/questions-answers