Imported foods

If you are going away on holiday or travelling abroad you may want to bring back foods you find for personal use.  It is important however to check whether you can actually import these foods as there are restrictions on what can be brought into the country.  This is to help prevent exotic diseases, plant pests and other diseases from entering the UK. 

Remember that it doesn’t matter whether you have bought the food, grown it or been given it; it is the actual importation that may be restricted.

Maps and useful information on importing food for personal use can be found at the Directgov website.   In addition Defra (The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has produced a useful interactive guide to importing food which can be found on their ‘personal food imports’ webpages. 

Products of animal origin

Products of animal origin, such as meat, honey, shellfish and dairy products can be traded freely between EU member states, with regard to EU law.

Imports of foods of animal origin from outside the EU are restricted and can only be imported if the exporting country AND producer are on an approved list.  Further information can be found on the FSA website  and on the Defra website.

Some imports for personal use are allowed, however the rules are complex. The Directgov website has further information which enables you to check individual countries for what is permitted to be brought back.  

If you are a food business owner you are advised that even if the foods were imported for personal use, if they are found on your food premises they will be treated as being intended for business use unless you can prove to the contrary.

If you import foods to your business from unapproved countries and suppliers they are liable to be seized and destroyed with the costs borne by yourself.