Brits returning from the EU need to watch out for new restrictions on what they can bring back into the UK, with a fresh set of items now banned. As of April 12 vigilant custom officials will be keeping an eye out to prevent meat and dairy products entering the country.
Whether you’re flying, taking a ferry, or hopping on a train, the latest government measures are now in force to prevent the import of foot and mouth disease (FMD), which is currently rampant in parts of Europe. These new protocols have been implemented to try and stop the disease getting a foothold in the UK – which would have a potentially major impact on the nation’s food supply.
The strict rules prohibit travellers from bringing certain animal products – specifically those from cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. FMD is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals. It is characterised by blisters on the feet and mouth, as well as fever and lameness. The disease can cause significant economic impact and distress to farmers.
Strict rules prohibit travellers from bringing certain animal products – specifically those from cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs – into the UK for personal consumption. FMD is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals – particularly cattle, pigs, sheep, deer, and goats.
The 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.”
The ban includes sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats, and milk – whether packed, unpacked, or bought duty-free. The ban applies to cattle meat, pigs meat, sheep meat and goats meat, and cattle dairy, pigs dairy, sheep dairy and goats dairy.
Deputy chief vet Dr Jorge Martin-Almagro explained: “Robust contingency plans are already in place to manage the risk of this disease to protect farmers and Britain’s food security.”
Holidaymakers arriving with banned items will be asked to surrender them or face confiscation. In serious cases, fines of up to £5,000 may apply (in England).
Some exemptions exist – small amounts of infant milk, medical foods and products like bread, chocolate, biscuits and pasta are still allowed. Full details are available on official government channels.
There are currently no cases of FMD in the UK, though the UK Chief Veterinary Officer is urging livestock keepers to remain vigilant to the clinical signs of FMD following an incursion of the disease in Germany, followed by an unrelated incursion affecting Hungary and Slovakia.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Cookie Notice.
