The UK government has extended a ban on travellers bringing certain food products from the European Union into Great Britain until 2026, with fines of up to £5,000 for those caught violating the rules. The restrictions, aimed at preventing the spread of foot and mouth disease (FMD) amid rising cases in Europe, prohibit personal imports of meat, dairy, and animal products from EU nations.
The ban covers items such as sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats, and milk, regardless of whether they are purchased at duty-free shops. Border officials will seize and destroy prohibited items, and serious cases may result in fines of up to £5,000 in England. The measures apply only to arrivals in Great Britain, not Northern Ireland.
Dame Angela Eagle, Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), confirmed the restrictions remain in force, stating: 'Restrictions on personal imports of certain meat, dairy and animal products from the EU will remain in place while the biosecurity risk remains. As well as FMD, these measures mitigate against incursions of other animal diseases circulating in the EU, including African swine fever, sheep pox and goat pox.'
The government has already banned personal imports from Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria following confirmed FMD outbreaks. While FMD poses no threat to human health, it is highly infectious among cloven-hoofed animals and can cause significant economic damage to farming businesses. Defra emphasised that the UK remains free of the disease but the continental outbreak threatens British livestock and food security.
Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said: 'This government will do whatever it takes to protect British farmers from foot and mouth. That is why we are further strengthening protections by introducing restrictions on personal meat and dairy imports to prevent the spread of the disease and protect Britain's food security.'
