The EU recommends vacationers from China to take a Covid take a look at earlier than getting into Europe

European nations are considering new travel requirements from China after Beijing lifted Covid restrictions.

China news service | China news service | Getty Images

European nations on Wednesday recommended imposing new restrictions on travelers from China amid fears of a surge in Covid cases.

Passengers departing from China will likely need to present a negative Covid test before leaving the country if traveling to any of the 27 EU countries.

Officials in China have criticized recently imposed testing requirements for travelers from the country and threatened mutual countermeasures. The US, India, UK, Japan and Australia have all announced stricter measures for travelers from China to prevent a surge in Covid cases.

Italy was among the first EU nations to take action after Beijing abruptly abandoned strict measures in place during much of the pandemic.

Rome, one of the countries in Europe hardest hit by the pandemic, ordered compulsory tests last week. France and Spain had also taken similar positions.

The latest move by the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, aims to coordinate rules across the region.

In late December, Chinese authorities said they would resume issuing visas to residents for overseas travel. They also said travelers arriving in China would no longer need to quarantine.

However, China has seen an increase in Covid infections since November and there are concerns about the vaccination levels of its population. The country has nine domestically developed vaccines, according to Reuters, but they have not been updated for the Omicron variant, which is considered highly contagious.

European authorities have offered to send vaccines to China, but Beijing has yet to respond, according to a European Commission spokesman.

The Commission spokesman told CNBC that the EU, through its delegation in Beijing, had made efforts to “offer solidarity and support, including through sharing public health expertise and variant-matched EU vaccine donations.”

Asked Tuesday about Europe’s offer to provide Covid vaccines, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning replied: “China has the world’s largest Covid vaccine production lines, with an annual production capacity of over 7 billion doses and annual output of over 5.5 billion doses, covering the need to ensure everyone who is eligible for vaccination has access to Covid vaccines.”

“China’s Covid situation is predictable and under control,” she added.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that European officials on Wednesday recommended testing travelers from China before flying.