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Personal imports: Frequently asked questions

Import controls


Import controls

 
What is an illegal product?

An illegal product is one that is either banned or has been brought back in an amount that exceeds any weight or quantity limits that apply.

Why do the rules exist?

Diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease and Bird Flu can be brought into the UK via animal products (particularly those containing meat or milk). Fruits and vegetables may carry pests that can infect plants and vegetables in the UK. Such diseases and pests can have a devastating effect on our farming livestock, crops and the environment.

Some products may also contain diseases, residues or contaminants that harm human/public health (e.g. from fish, honey, untreated animal hides and skins used to make products such as drums). Controlling the animal products that come into the UK is therefore essential and, in the case of commercial imports, health-checks protect public health.

All EU countries have the same import controls as the UK.

Who enforces the rules?

United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA)/Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is responsible for detecting smuggled goods from non-EU countries at Great Britain (GB) points of entry (except in areas designated as Border Inspection Posts (BIPs)), including postal imports whether at postal depots, ports or airports, and for enforcing controls under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland (DARDNI) has responsibility in Northern Ireland, both at BIPs and other points of entry.

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What about animal products sent by post?

The same rules apply to any products sent by post. Checks on mail arriving at international sorting offices are carried out by UKBA/HMRC Officers looking for all contraband products. Illegal products will be seized and destroyed by Customs and you will be issued with a seizure notice by post.

What should I do if someone has sent animal products to me by post?

If you are concerned that the products in the parcel may have been illegally sent to this country or if the products do not appear to be healthy you should notify your local Environmental Health Office as they should send an officer to seize and destroy the parcel.

What controls are there on legal imports of animal products?

The EU operates a system of strict controls on legal imports of animal products including meat. All products from non-EU countries can only be imported through designated 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.

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What should I do if I want to surrender any animal products at GB points of entry or I am not sure about the rules?

It is important that you declare any products that you are bringing in from outside the EU. If you are unsure about any of the products you are bringing in, speak to a Customs Officer in the red channel or on the red point phone. If you declare any illegal products to UKBA/HMRC, they will take them away and destroy them and no further action will be taken.

If Customs Officers seize any animal products can I get permitted quantities back?

No. If you are bringing in more than you are allowed, UKBA/HMRC will seize the whole amount.

What happens if I don’t agree that UKBA/HMRC should have seized the animal products I have brought back?

UKBA/HMRC have an appeal procedure detailed in their Notice 12a. If UKBA/HMRC are found to have wrongly seized the products then compensation for their loss is likely to be paid. The original products will have been destroyed as all perishable items are classed for immediate disposal.

What are the penalties for personally importing illegal animal products?

Carrying products that are banned is illegal, and there are heavy penalties for smuggling. If you fail to declare any products that are not permitted, you could face severe delays or prosecution.

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Personal imports of animal or plant products into the UK

What if I bring in to the UK animal products produced in the EU even though I have travelled from a country outside the EU? Or animal products produced in a non-EU country where no restrictions apply, but I am travelling to the UK from a non-EU country where restrictions are imposed?

What products you can bring in to the UK depends on where you are travelling from, and not where the products were produced or packaged.

If my animal products are packed in such a way which makes it impossible to separate them from their packaging, how much by weight will I be allowed?

The concession will be determined on the gross weight including the packaging, e.g. fish packed with ice, if the gross weight of the fish and the ice together exceeds the concession, the whole amount will be seized.

Another example is where the products are packed inside a specific and separate container, such as a box, if the gross weight of the box exceeds the concession, the whole amount will be seized.

Are children allowed to bring animal products in to the UK?

Yes, the same rules apply to children as for adults. Unlike the allowances for alcoholic drinks brought in to the UK, children are entitled to bring products in to the UK providing they are permitted from that country.

I am travelling in to the UK from Canada with two friends. Am I allowed to carry 60kg (20kg each) of smoked salmon for all three of us?
Yes, but the smoked salmon must be with the traveller, so if three friends arrived at Customs together and one of them had 60kg of smoked salmon they would be allowed 20kg per person, even though the total amount was carried by one person.

However, if one person had 60kg 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.

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What happens if the animal products I bring in to the UK are mixed with other baggage or clothing I have packed?

UKBA/HMRC will take a pragmatic approach to seizing other items mixed or packed with animal 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 20kg, – cross-contamination will mean that the fish will also be seized.

Am I allowed to bring in to the UK animal products that I purchased at the airport?

The same rules apply for the country you are travelling from whether the products were bought at the airport or elsewhere.

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Am I allowed to bring in chocolate and confectionery or nuts?

Chocolate and confectionery are permitted from any country, as long as they do not contain fresh cream or high levels of dairy products. Confectionery that contain high levels of dairy 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.

Are there any restrictions on bringing fruits and vegetables or plants in to the UK for personal use?

Yes. Information can be found in the table of concessions for plants and plant produce and products. PDF (110 KB)

What is bushmeat?

Bushmeat is the meat of any animal hunted for food, not necessarily from endangered species. Bushmeat makes up only a small amount of all animal product seizures. Endangered species are covered by CITES and penalties for importation into the EU are high with up to 7 years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

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Who do I contact if I want to import animal hides and skins?

You are only allowed to bring tanned animal hides and skins (either with or without hairs/fur) from all countries in your personal luggage, although there is no specific limit on the amount you can bring. Tanning means the hardening of hides and skins using vegetable tanning agents, chromium salts or other substances such as aluminium salts, ferric salts, silicic salts, aldehydes and quinones, or other synthetic hardening agents. For further information about importing animal hides and skins (including bristles and game trophies), please refer to International trade: Customer Information Notes - API/AI/08/160 on the Defra website

Personal exports of animal products

Can I take animal products from the UK to another country?

You are strongly advised to check with the authorities of the country you want to export to, as only they can give you failsafe advice as to what constitutes an acceptable and legal import into their country. We can only provide information for imports into the UK.

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Page last modified: May 5, 2009

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs