12.10.2026 Regulation #EU #Import #Duties #Quotas #Trade agreements

EU waives ad valorem duties on Armenian goods, with fruit and vegetable quotas

Regulation (EU) 2026/2269 on temporary trade-liberalisation measures for products originating in Armenia entered into force on 10 October 2026. It was signed on 7 October and published in the Official Journal on 9 October. It applies until 11 October 2028.

How the preferences work: full exemption and quotas

Products listed in Annex I may enter the EU free of ad valorem duties. The list includes, among others, potatoes 0701, tomatoes 0702 and apples (subheading 0808 10, 0808) (regulation text).

For Annex II products, duty-free entry applies only within annual Union tariff quotas. The Commission manages the quotas under Articles 49 to 54 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447; in the year of entry into force the quota period runs from 10 October to 31 December 2026 (regulation). Volumes, tonnes per year:

Source: Annex II of the regulation.

Conditions and safeguards

Entitlement rests on four conditions (Article 2). Armenia must comply with the rules of origin and cooperate closely with the EU, including on verifying evidence of origin. It must not introduce new or increased duties or other trade restrictions on the EU unless duly justified and notified. Respect for democratic principles, the rule of law and human rights under Articles 2 and 9 of the Partnership Agreement is also required (regulation).

If there is sufficient evidence of non-compliance, the Commission may suspend the measures in whole or in part by an implementing act (Article 3). Where a Member State requests suspension on the basis of the third condition, the Commission must give a reasoned opinion within 4 months.

Article 4 provides a safeguard mechanism. Assessing the adverse effect of imports on the EU market takes up to 4 months. In critical circumstances, provisional measures can be adopted within 21 days of a Member State's request and last no more than 120 days.

Context and what it means for traders

Recital 3 states that since May 2026 Russia has introduced large-scale trade measures affecting Armenian exports, including alcoholic beverages, mineral water, fruit and vegetables (regulation). According to the European Commission, as reported by Interfax, the liberalisation covers almost 80% of Armenian exports to the EU, practically all volumes of fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers hit by Russian restrictions, and more than 91% of beverage and alcohol exports (Alta.ru, Interfax-Ukraine).

For importers in the EU, the treatment depends on the annex in which a product is listed: for Annex II goods, the exemption from ad valorem duty applies only within the quota. For Armenian exporters, proof of origin is a condition: without compliance with the rules of origin, the preferences do not apply.

How the regulation passed the EU institutions

According to Armenia's Foreign Ministry, the EU Council approved the draft on 2 September, the European Parliament on 15 September, and final approval followed on 24 September (Noyan Tapan).

Primary sources

Mentioned codes

0701 0702 0808 0707 0809 0806 0810

This material is for information only and does not constitute legal advice or customs consulting. Verify changes against the primary sources before acting.