Personal imports: Frequently asked questions
- Q1. Which countries are in the EU?
- Q2. What is an illegal import?
- Q3. Why have import controls?
- Q4. Who enforces this?
- Q5. What about products coming through the mail?
- Q6. What do I do if someone has sent food to me in the post?
- Q7. What controls are there on legal imports of meat?
- Q8. What do I do if I want to surrender any goods at a Port or Airport or am not sure about the rules?
- Q9. If HMRC Officers seize goods can I get permitted quantities back?
- Q10. What happens if I don’t agree that HMRC should
have seized the items I brought back?
- Q11. What are the penalties for personally importing plant or animal products?
- Q12. Can I bring meat from another European country back to the UK?
- Q13. Am I allowed to bring smoked or dried meats such as biltong into the UK?
- Q14. Where can I bring cheese back from?
- Q15. Am I allowed to bring in chocolate/confectionery/nuts?
- Q16. What can I bring into the UK from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man?
- Q17. Can I take food from the UK to another country?
- Q18. Am I allowed to bring in cheese sauce mix from the US?
- Q19. Can I bring in 1 kilogram of fish and 1 kilogram of honey and 1 kilogram of egg products from approved non-EU countries?
- Q20. When I go on holiday abroad can I bring back for
my personal consumption 1 kilogram of lobster, 1 kilogram of salmon
and 1 kilogram of tuna?
- Q21. Am I allowed to bring in snails and frogs legs?
- Q22. What if I want to bring in infant milk/food and special foods required for medical reasons?
- Q23. What if I bring in an item produced in the EU even though I have flown back from outside the EU?
- Q24. What if I have come from a third country with no concession but I have been to other countries with concessions, what is the position?
- Q25. I am travelling back from northern Cyprus via Turkey
can I bring back cheese and meat?
- Q26. Are children entitled to an allowance for imported food for personal use?
- Q27. I would like to bring back a whole fish from Africa for my own use but they nearly always weigh just over 1 kilogram? Will it be allowed?
- Q28. I am travelling from Canada with two friends. Am I allowed to carry 3 kilograms (1kg each) of smoked salmon for all three of us?
- Q29. I want to send a parcel from Nigeria containing 2 kilograms (1 kg each) of dried fish to my son and his wife in the UK. Am I allowed to send 2 kilograms of fish in one parcel if it is addressed to both of them?
- Q30. What happens if the items I bring in are mixed
with other baggage or clothing I have packed?
- Q31. I want to send a food parcel from Australia to the UK. The parcel would include snack foods such as Vegemite. Will this be allowed?
- Q32. Am I allowed to bring in food items, plant and animal products that I purchased at the airport?
- Q33. Is there a general publication on personal imports?
- Q34. Are there any restrictions on bringing back plants for personal use?
- Q35. Are there any restrictions on bringing in fruit
and vegetables for personal use?
- Q36. Who do I contact if I want to import skins, hides, furs, meat?
- Q37. What is bushmeat?
- Q38. Who do I contact if I want to import live animals?
Q1. Which countries are in the EU?
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus*, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, The Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal (including Madeira), Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK. For information on what you can/can't bring in please see the searchable database.
* The European Commission has advised that whilst the entire island of Cyprus joined the EU on 1 May 2004, as the situation stands at present, the application of the EU acquis shall be suspended in those areas of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control. Therefore goods from those areas continue to be treated as a non-EU import.
Q2. What is an illegal import?
A. The rules mean that if you travel to most countries outside the European Union including USA, Australia and New Zealand, it is illegal to bring meat and milk-based products for your personal use back into the UK.
This applies whether you are bringing them in yourself, a gift from a friend or relative or in the post. The rules apply whether the products is fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, smoked, tinned, preserved or processed.
There are also limits on bringing back other food items, including fish, shellfish, honey, eggs and egg products and certain types of fruit and vegetables. It is illegal to bring back more than any permitted levels
Q3. Why have import controls?
A. Import controls are essential to protect our livestock, agricultural crops, public health and wild flora and fauna from exotic pests and diseases such as Foot and Mouth disease and Avian Influenza (bird flu). There are strict controls on bringing meat, milk, fish, shellfish, plants, and their products, into EU countries because they can carry animal and plant pests and diseases. The penalties for breaking these rules (which for personal imports this might mean that meat or animal products that are banned are brought into the country, or in amounts that exceed the allowances) include up to seven years imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Q4. Who enforces this?
A. Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are responsible for detecting smuggled goods at the ports and Airports (except in areas designated as Border Inspection Posts). They are also responsible for postal imports whether at sorting offices, ports or airports and for enforcing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland (DARDNI) retain responsibility in Northern Ireland.
Q5. What about products coming through the mail?
A. Checks on mail arriving at international sorting offices are carried out by HMRC Officers, looking for all contraband products. All banned products will be seized and you will be issued with a seizure notice by post. Please see the searchable database.
Q6. What do I do if someone has sent food to me in the post?
A. If you are concerned that the food in the parcel may have been illegally sent to this country or if the food does not appear to be healthy you should notify your local Environmental Health Office. They should send an officer to seize and destroy the parcel.
Q7. What controls are there on legal imports of meat?
A. The EU operates a system of strict controls on legal imports of animal products including meat. All products of animal origin from non-EU countries can only be imported through designated Border Inspection Posts (BIPs), where they undergo veterinary checks by an official veterinary surgeon to ensure that import conditions are met. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks at the BIP, and to prescribed levels of physical checks according to the type of product and country of origin. Imports are only permitted from those non-EU countries and product plants that have been authorised by the EU for the importation of the product in question. Such authorisation is based on guarantees to the EU about hygiene standards.
Q8. What do I do if I want to surrender any goods at a Port or Airport or am not sure about the rules?
A. If you have any food or plants that are not permitted, or more than any permitted level, or you are not sure of the rules, you must go to HM Revenue and Customs Red Channel / Point ‘something to declare’ and either use the phone provided at the Red Point or speak to a HMRC Officer. If you do not, you may face penalties which include up to seven years imprisonment, a fine or both.
Q9. If HMRC Officers seize goods can I get permitted quantities back?
A. No. If you have brought in more than is permitted of a product HMRC Officers will seize the whole quantity.
Q10. What happens if I don’t agree that HMRC should have seized the items I brought back?
A. HMRC have an appeal procedure detailed in their Notice 12a. If HMRC are found to have wrongly seized the food products then compensation for their loss is likely to be paid. The original items will have been destroyed as all perishable items are classed for immediate disposal.
Q11. What are the penalties for personally importing plant or animal products?
A. If you fail to declare at the HMRC red point any meat, other animal products or plants and plant products, you may be liable to an unlimited fine and/or up to seven years’ imprisonment.
Q12. Can I bring meat from another European country back to the UK?
A. Any meat or meat products are permitted from other European Member States or Andorra, the Canary Islands, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Norway and San Marino. A combined total of 5kgs of meat and dairy products are permitted from The Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. You cannot bring back meat or meat products from any other European country.
Q13. Am I allowed to bring smoked or dried meats such as biltong into the UK?
A. All meat products are banned from most non-EU countries. Small quantities of meat and meat products are permitted from the countries and territories listed in question 12 above.
Q14. Where can I bring cheese back from?
A. Any milk products are permitted from other European Member States or Andorra, the Canary Islands, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Norway and San Marino. Small quantities of milk and milk products are permitted from the countries and territories listed in the answer to question 12 above, but are banned from all other countries.
Q15. Am I allowed to bring in chocolate/confectionery/nuts?
A. Chocolate and confectionery are permitted from any country, as long as they do not contain fresh cream or high levels of diary products. Confectionery that contain high levels of diary products include Burfi, Ghee, Gulab Jaman, Halwah or Halva, Ras Malai, RasGullah, Ladoos, and Chum-Ch. Information on importing nuts can be found on The Food Standards Agency website.
Q16. What can I bring into the UK from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man?
A. There are no restrictions on bringing meat, milk, fish, shellfish, eggs, honey, plants, and their products into the UK from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Q17. Can I take food from the UK to another country?
A. You will need to check with the authorities of the country you want to export to, as we can only provide information for imports into the UK.
Q18. Am I allowed to bring in cheese sauce mix from the US?
A. No. Milk and milk products are banned from the US.
Q19. Can I bring in 1 kilogram of fish and 1 kilogram of honey and 1 kilogram of egg products from approved non-EU countries?
A. Yes if it’s permitted – see the searchable database.
Q20. When I go on holiday abroad can I bring back for my personal consumption 1 kilogram of lobster, 1 kilogram of salmon and 1 kilogram of tuna?
A. Yes - but only if you are travelling back from another EU Member State or from Iceland or Norway. If you are travelling from any other country you may only bring back a combined total of 1 kilogram of fish or fish products, if that country has been approved for these imports.
Q21. Am I allowed to bring in snails and frogs legs?
A. If you are travelling from another EU member state snails and frogs legs are allowed, provided they are brought in that country, free from pests and diseases and intended for personal use.
If you are travelling from any other country you may only bring back 1kg of snails or frog legs, if that country has been approved for these imports (for a list of approved countries check the database.
For frogs legs the skin/internal organs must still be removed - if still attached you cannot bring them to the UK.
For snail meat – shelled, cooked and prepared/preserved meat of edible land snails, including canned snail meat, and snail shells re-filled with snail meat. Live snails, dead snails still in their shells and water snails are not permitted.
Q22. What if I want to bring in infant milk/food and special foods required for medical reasons?
A. All travellers may bring in a limited quantity* of powdered infant milk, infant food and special foods required for medical reasons for personal use (or that of the infant(s) travelling with them). These products must not require refrigeration before opening and must be in commercially branded packaging, unopened unless in current use. These products must be carried in the personal luggage of a traveller and therefore must not be sent by post or courier. Although not compulsory, you may wish to print out a copy of the General Import Licence 
(50KB) to accompany the products.
Meat or recognisable meat products (e.g. those not in tablet/powder form) do not meet the criteria for an exemption from the rules for medical reasons.
*a reasonable amount for the length of the stay and the number of infants/adults involved, and not for commercial purposes.
Q23. What if I bring in an item produced in the EU even though I have flown back from outside the EU?
A. Any items that are brought in to the UK (no matter where they are packaged or produced) are deemed as being produced from the country of your return trip to the UK.
Q24. What if I have come from a third country with no concession but I have been to other countries with concessions, what is the position?
A. The items will be classed as being produced from the country of your return trip to the UK.
Q25. I am travelling back from northern Cyprus via Turkey can I bring back cheese and meat?
A. No - EU regulations do not apply to north Cyprus. Therefore you are not allowed to bring in any meat or dairy products for personal consumption.
The European Commission has advised that whilst the entire island of Cyprus will joined the EU on 1 May 2004, as the situation stands at present, the application of the EU acquis shall be suspended in those areas of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control. Therefore goods from those areas continue to be treated as a non-EU import.
Q26. Are children entitled to an allowance for imported food for personal use?
A. Yes. Unlike the allowances for alcoholic drinks brought back to the UK, children are entitled to bring in products of animal origin providing it is permitted. The same rules apply to children as for adults.
Q27. I would like to bring back a whole fish from Africa for my own use but they nearly always weigh just over 1 kilogram? Will it be allowed?
A. No. You are only permitted to bring in 1 kilogram each of fish, shellfish, honey, eggs and egg products from permitted non-EU countries. Any of these foods brought back that weigh over 1 kilogram are illegal and all of that product (not just the part in excess of 1 kilogram) must be surrendered to the authorities.
Q28. I am travelling from Canada with two friends. Am I allowed to carry 3 kilograms (1kg each) of smoked salmon for all three of us?
A. Yes, but the smoked salmon must be with the traveller, so if three friends arrived at HMRC together and one of them had 3 kilograms of smoked salmon they would be allowed 1 kilogram per person even though the total was carried by one person.
However, if one person had 3 kilograms of smoked salmon and said that it was for their friends who were travelling later or who had already cleared from the same flight that wouldn't be allowed as the goods are not with the passengers.
Q29. I want to send a parcel from Nigeria containing 2kgs (1kg each) of dried fish to my son and his wife in the UK. Am I allowed to send 2kg of fish in one parcel if it is addressed to both of them?
A. Yes, if a parcel addressed to Mr & Mrs Smith arrives with 2 kilograms of fish it would be allowed. However if it was addressed to The Smith family or Mr & Mrs Smith and Family and contained for example 5 kilograms of fish it would not be allowed.
Q30. What happens if the items I bring in are mixed with other baggage or clothing I have packed?
A. HMRC will take a pragmatic approach to seizing other items mixed or packed with meat and animal or plant products. However if clothing or the bag appear to be contaminated i.e. there is blood on these items, then they will be seized and destroyed. For instance if meat has been packed with fish of less than 1 kilogram -cross contamination will mean that the fish will also be seized.
Q31. I want to send a food parcel from Australia to the UK. The parcel would include snack foods such as Vegemite. Will this be allowed?
A. Provided the food you want to send contains:
- no meat, meat products or dairy products or
- eggs, egg products, honey, shellfish, fish and fish products over 1 kilogram (each).
a few packets of snack foods should be allowed.
Q32. Am I allowed to bring in food items, plant and animal products that I purchased at the airport?
A. The same rules apply for the country you are in whether the product was bought at the airport or elsewhere.
Q33. Is there a general publication on personal imports?
A. HMRC have produced leaflets.
Q34. Are there any restrictions on bringing back plants for personal use?
A. Yes. Information can be found in the table
of concessions for plants and plant produce and products.
(70 KB)
Q35. Are there any restrictions on bringing in fruit and vegetables for personal use?
A. Information can be found in the table
of concessions for plants and plant produce and products.
(70 KB)
Q36. Who do I contact if I want to import skins, hides, furs, meat?
A. Information can be obtained from the Imports Policy Branch.
Q37. What is bushmeat?
A. Bushmeat is the meat of any animal hunted for food, not necessarily from endangered species. Bushmeat makes up only a small amount of all seizures of POAO. Endangered species are covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and penalties for importation into the EU are high with up to 7 years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.
Q38. Who do I contact if I want to import live animals?
A. Information about importing livestock (cattle, sheep, swine, and goats), birds, poultry and hatching eggs can be obtained from the Imports Policy Branch . For more information about importing pet cats and dogs, please see the Pet Travel Scheme pages on the Defra website.
Page last
modified:
May 1, 2008