Personal imports of animal products into the UK

Am I allowed to bring into the UK animal products 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.

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, eg 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 including the box exceeds the concession, the whole amount will be seized.

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

United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) 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 ie 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 the fish will also be seized.

I am travelling into 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 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.

Are children allowed to bring animal products into the UK?

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

What if I bring into 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 into the UK depends on where you are travelling from, and not where the products were produced or packaged.

Can I bring in animal products from other EU Member States?

If you are travelling from within the EU*, you may bring in or send by post any food products as long as they are free from diseases and are for your own consumption.

*Meat/Meat products and Milk/Dairy products from cattle, deer, goats, pigs and sheep, from the Burgas region of Bulgaria, are not currently permitted – see the ‘Latest news’ section for more information.

For these purposes only, Andorra, Canary Islands, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland are treated as EU Member States, under special agreements due to their proximity to the EU and their animal health status.

Am I allowed to bring in Christmas cakes and Christmas puddings?

Christmas cakes and Christmas puddings (including those with nuts) are permitted from any country as long as they are for your personal consumption and/or as gifts and do not contain fresh cream or high levels of dairy products or beef suet.

Am I allowed to bring in confectionery, chocolate, cake or nuts?

Confectionery, chocolate or cakes (including Christmas cake, Simnel cake or cakes containing nuts) are permitted from any country as long as they are for your personal consumption and do not contain fresh cream or high levels of dairy products.  Confectionery that contain high levels of dairy products include Burfi, Gulab Jaman, Halwah or Halva, Ras Malai, RasGullah, Ladoos, and Chum Chum.  Information on importing nuts can be found on the Food Standards Agency website.

Are there any restrictions on bringing fruits and vegetables or plants into 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)

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.

Personal exports of animal products from the UK

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 is an acceptable and legal import into their country. We can only provide information for imports into the UK.