European Union countries have agreed to phase out COVID-19 test requirements for travelers from China, a policy that was introduced in early January and opposed by China when the country was about to lift its strict restrictions.

The decision agreed upon by the 27 member states on Thursday was made "in light of the recent epidemiological developments and taking into account the opinion of the Heath Security Committee", the Swedish presidency of the EU Council said in a statement.

The EU agreed to phase out the requirement for negative predeparture COVID-19 tests for travelers from China to member states by the end of February, and to phase out random testing of travelers from China to member states by the end of March.

The statement came after a meeting on the same day during which EU member states involved in the Integrated Political Crisis Response — with Schengen Associated countries present — reviewed the situation.

The IPCR is the EU's crisis response mechanism to coordinate the political response to major cross sectoral and complex crises.

In Sweden, which assumes the rotating presidency of the EU Council in the first half of this year, its Public Health Agency has announced that the country will be lifting all entry requirements for travelers from China starting Feb 19.