Import and export: safety, health, environment, and economy
Do you import or export goods to or from the European Union? You must comply with Dutch and European rules on  safety, health, economy, and environment (Veiligheid, Gezondheid, Economie en Milieu, VGEM).Â
The Netherlands Customs Administration inspects whether your products comply with the VGEM regulations. They do so together with the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (Nederlandse Voedsel en Warenautoriteit, NVWA) and the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (Inspectie Gezondheidszorg en Jeugd, IGJ).
It depends on the product how to comply with the VGEM legislation. For some products there is a complete ban on the import, export, or transit of those products. Or you may only import, export, or transit products if they meet strict requirements. In such cases you often need an import licence or an export licence.
Product categories subject to VGEM
- Drugs and drug precursors
- Weapons and ammunition
- Sanctioned goods or countries: you are not allowed to (temporarily) import or export specific goods or import or export goods to certain countries.
- Medicines
Read more with Dutch Customs on the requirements for safety.
- Plants, flowers, vegetables and fruit
- Live animals and animal products
- Endangered plant and animal speciesÂ
- Animal feed
- Product safety
Read more with Dutch Customs on the requirements for health.
- Strategic goods (military goods and dual-use goods)
- Counterfeit products
- Cultural goods, such as arts and antiques
- Traffic control fee for seagoing vessels
Read more with Dutch Customs on the requirements for the economy.
- Waste materials
- Environmentally hazardous substances
- Radioactive substances and nuclear materials
- Transport of dangerous substances
Read more with Dutch Customs on the requirements for the environment.