If you are travelling to a country outside of the European Union (EU) and would like to bring back food to the UK, you should check the rules on what is allowed before you travel. If you’re not sure whether the country you’re going to is part of the EU, use the link below to check.
What are the rules?
It is against the law to bring back any meat and dairy products of any kind from countries outside the EU*, even if they’re for yourself, free from disease, bought in a shop (including at an airport), home-grown/made or vacuum packed. You may bring back a limited amount of powdered infant milk, infant food, special foods and special pet feed required for medical reasons.
*unless you are travelling from Croatia, Faeroe Islands, Greenland or Iceland, when you are allowed a combined weight of up to 10kg per person
- There are also bans or restrictions on other food products – these depend on the particular country you’re travelling to the UK from (not where the food products were produced or packaged)
- The rules apply to any food products brought in your personal luggage or sent by post (including those ordered online)
- Illegal food products will be seized and destroyed by
Customs – which means you could face delays in getting
home and you could be prosecuted
Why do the rules exist?
These regulations are in place to reduce the risk of contaminated food being brought into the UK and putting people, animals and agriculture at risk of disease. The ban on meat and dairy products and restrictions on other food products applies to everyone travelling to the UK from countries outside the UK.
Remember: Most of these products are available in the UK, so there’s no need to bring them back and risk prosecution
Country checker
Use the world map above or the links below to find the information you need about the particular country or area you are travelling to.
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