Armenian goods enter EU duty-free under temporary 2026/2269 scheme

Products originating in Armenia listed in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2026/2269 enter the Union exempt from ad valorem import duties from 10 October 2026Europa, and eight Armenian agricultural products listed in Annex II enter duty-free within annual Union tariff quotasEuropa. The European Parliament and the Council adopted the Regulation on 7 October 2026, it was published in the Official Journal on 9 October 2026, it enters into force on 10 October 2026Tulli and it applies until 11 October 2028Europa.

The quota-limited products are cucumbers and gherkins (6,500 tonnes per calendar year)Europa, grapes (5,000 tonnes)Europa, pears other than perry pears in bulk from 1 August to 31 December (750 tonnes)Europa, apricots (7,000 tonnes)Europa, cherries other than sour cherries (2,000 tonnes)Europa, peaches including nectarines (3,500 tonnes)Europa, plums (1,500 tonnes)Europa and strawberries (2,500 tonnes)Europa. In 2026 the quota period runs from the Regulation's entry into force until 31 DecemberEuropa. Tulli states that the quotas are allocated in the order of the acceptance dates of the customs declarations, so the date on which a declaration is accepted decides whether a consignment still benefitsEuropa; quantities imported above the quota volume do not benefit from the exemptionEuropa.

An importer can claim the relief only if the goods satisfy the Union's unilateral-preference origin rules in Articles 59 to 70 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446Europa and Articles 113 to 126 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447Europa, and Armenia cooperates closely with the Union on verifying proofs of originEuropa. Proof of origin can take the form of an invoice declaration made out by an Armenian exporter registered in the Union's Registered Exporter (REX) systemEuropa. In practice, an importer seeking the zero rate should therefore secure a valid origin statement from a REX-registered Armenian supplier and lodge the customs declaration before the relevant quota is exhausted.

The relief is conditional on Armenia introducing no new duties or charges having equivalent effect, no new quantitative restrictions or measures having equivalent effect on imports from the UnionEuropa, not increasing existing duties or chargesEuropa, and introducing no other trade restrictions on the UnionEuropa. The Commission may suspend the measures in whole or in part where Armenia fails to comply with these or the other entitlement conditions, which include respect for democratic principles, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms and countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Where imports under the Regulation adversely affect the Union market or a Member State market for like or directly competing products, the Commission may also impose safeguard measures, provisionally within 21 days of a substantiated Member State request in critical circumstances.

The background is the disruption of Armenia's traditional export markets: since May 2026 Russia has applied large-scale trade measures to key Armenian export products including alcoholic beverages, mineral water, fruit and vegetables. Legal basis: Regulation (EU) 2026/2269, Articles 1, 2, 4 and 7 and Annexes I and II.