Many tourists going on or returning from their summer holidays may be unaware that something as simple as a sandwich or tasty souvenir could see them caught out at the border
Make sure not to pack any of these banned food products in your suitcase(Image: Getty Images)
If you’re one of the millions of Brits set to jet off abroad this summer, you may not think twice about bringing a snack in your bag for when you arrive at your hotel, or taking home some tasty souvenirs. But doing so could land you in hot water at the airport if you’re heading to or from an EU country.
The UK Foreign Office has reminded holidaymakers that they cannot take meat, milk, or products containing them into any countries in the European Union. This includes many of the holiday hotspots frequented by Brits each summer such as Spain, Greece, Italy, France and Portugal.
Spanish news outlet Canarian Weekly has issued a reminder to visitors of these strict rules, advising that while you can take food on board the plane to eat during your flight, it must be binned before you enter any EU country. Urging tourists to “think twice before packing that ham sandwich”, travel experts warn that breaking these rules could result in fines or even criminal prosecution.
In addition, it is also illegal for anyone coming into the UK from an EU country to bring meat and dairy products across the border. This ban was extended by the Government in April in a bid to safeguard the UK food system and farmers against foot and mouth disease.
This includes bringing items such as sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats or milk into the UK – regardless of whether it is packed or packaged or whether it has been bought at duty free. Those found with these items will need to either surrender them at the border or will have them seized and destroyed, with serious cases risking fines of up to £5,000.
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Pork, beef, lamb, mutton, goat and venison are all banned from being brought by travellers from the EU into the UK. This includes other products made from these meats such as sausages, as well as dairy products like butter, cheese and yoghurt.
There are some exemptions to these rules, such as for powdered baby milk, baby food, and special foods or pet feed required for medical reasons. Travellers can bring up to 2kg of these types of food as long as it does not need to be refrigerated before use, and is in branded, unopened packaging (unless it is in current use).
The UK ban doesn’t apply to all food, with fish, poultry such as chicken, duck and goose, and other animal products such as eggs and honey all allowed to be brought in from the EU. The following products are also allowed into the UK without any restrictions:
- Bread, but not sandwiches filled with meat or dairy products
- Cakes without fresh cream
- Biscuits
- Chocolate and confectionery, but not those made with a lot of unprocessed dairy ingredients
- Pasta and noodles, but not if mixed or filled with meat or meat products
- Packaged soup, stocks and flavourings
- Processed and packaged plant products, such as packaged salads and frozen plant material
- Food supplements containing small amounts of an animal product, such as fish oil capsules
When it comes to taking food products from the UK to an EU country, meanwhile, travellers are allowed to bring in up to 20kg of fish products, including some shellfish such as prawns, lobsters, mussels and oysters. Up to 2kg of other animal products such as honey are also allowed – but all other types of meat are not. A full breakdown can be found on the European Union website.
Meanwhile, there are different rules in the UK regarding bringing in food from countries outside the EU. This includes a ban on some fruit and vegetables, unless they come with a ‘plant health’ certificate – more information can be found on the Government website.