Britons returning to the UK face a fine of up to £5,000 if they bring certain food items into the country. The Animal and Plant Health Agency has warned that sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats and milk must not be brought into Great Britain, regardless of whether they are packed or packaged or bought at duty free.
Why the ban is in place
The restrictions are designed to protect UK farmers from African swine fever (ASF) and foot and mouth disease (FMD). The agency said: "Help protect UK farmers from the devastating threat of African swine fever (ASF) and foot and mouth disease (FMD) by not bringing back meat or dairy products from the EU into Great Britain in your personal luggage."
It is illegal to bring in most meat and dairy products from abroad for personal use. This includes items like sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats or milk, even if they were bought at duty free.
Consequences of breaking the rules
If you declare banned food products to Border Force officers at customs, they will take them away and destroy them. If you do not declare them, you could be fined up to £5,000 in England or prosecuted.
Border Force can seize products if they think you have brought something into the country illegally, brought in too much of a restricted product, or if it has been cross-contaminated, for example with blood from meat. Any clothing or bag that is contaminated will also be destroyed.
These rules protect the UK from highly infectious viral diseases of livestock, such as foot and mouth disease and African swine fever. The viruses can persist in meat and dairy products for several months, posing a risk to susceptible animals. Neither disease affects humans, but they have a devastating impact on animal welfare, farming, trade and food security.
What you can bring
Travellers can bring the following into Great Britain from any country without restrictions: bread (but not sandwiches filled with meat or dairy), 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), packaged soup, stocks and flavourings, processed and packaged plant products, and food supplements containing small amounts of an animal product, such as fish oil capsules.
The agency reminds travellers: "If you break the rules, you are breaking the law. If you break the rules, you are risking our food and economic security." It adds that breaking the rules could be responsible for the death of millions of animals, and undeclared illegal meat and dairy products will be confiscated.
