The laws on what you can and can’t take back into the country have been enforced heavily following a disease outbreak
UK travellers face £5,000 fines for bringing back these 5 items(Image: Getty Images)
British holidaymakers returning from popular European destinations such as Spain, Italy, and Greece could face significant fines or even prosecution for making a simple mistake. The new laws that have been introduced impact many common items bought on holiday and brought back home.
The UK Government has implemented a temporary restriction on bringing meat and dairy products from any EU country to Great Britain for personal use due to concerns about its impact on British farming. An illness that is ravaging across Europe could make a massive impact in the UK, and threaten the food industry.
As explained in the Express, this ban was introduced to help prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease following outbreaks on the continent, with cases confirmed in Germany in January this year, and in Hungary and Slovakia in March. The restriction also applies to several non-EU countries, including the EFTA States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), the Faroe Islands, and Greenland.
Prohibited items for human consumption include:
- Pork
- Beef
- Lamb
- Mutton
- Goat
- Venison
- Other products made from these meats (e.g., sausages)
- Milk and dairy products (e.g., butter, cheese, and yoghurt)
You are allowed to bring in up to 2 kg per person of powdered infant milk, infant food, or special food needed for medical reasons, according to the UK Government website. However, these items must not require refrigeration before use and should be in branded, unopened packaging (unless currently in use).
Additionally, you cannot bring in products made from pigs, cows, sheep, goats, or deer that are not for human consumption, such as pet food made with pig meat. Nevertheless, you can bring back up to 2 kg per person of special pet food required for medical reasons.
These items must also not need refrigeration before use and should be in branded, unopened packaging (unless currently in use).
Any other permitted animal products not intended for human consumption (like pet food made with chicken meat) must either be commercially packaged with the manufacturer’s name and address or include an animal by-product commercial document. You are allowed to bring in up to 2 kg per person of these products as well.
For personal use, you are permitted to bring in:
- Fish
- Poultry (such as chicken, duck, goose, and any other products made from these meats)
- Other animal products like eggs and honey
Countries that British tourists frequently visit in the summer, such as Spain, Greece, Italy, and France—none of which have reported recent outbreaks—are all subject to this blanket ban.
If you declare banned products to Border Force officers at customs, they will be removed and destroyed. However, if you fail to declare these items, you could face a fine of up to £5,000 in England, or even prosecution, the government warns.
If you believe your products were seized and destroyed in error, you can appeal to Border Force, and if your appeal is successful, you may be eligible for compensation. For more information about the rules and the rationale for the ban, as well as previously imposed restrictions, please refer to the official guidelines.