Travellers banned from bringing five food items to UK as rules come in this week (2025)

The government has issued a ban, which began on April 12, that stops anyone travelling into the UK from Europe from bringing a series of food items with them in a bid to stop a devastating disease spreading.

All travellers coming back to the UK now need to check their luggage or hand baggage for five key items which are now strictly prohibited. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has implemented new rules in an effort to prevent a devastating disease from reaching the UK.

The ban implies that anyone attempting to enter the UK with many food items will be denied entry until these items are disposed of. The government has taken steps to curb the spread of foot and mouth disease (FMD) due to an increasing number of cases across Europe in the hopes that it will not reach Britain.

From this week, travellers will no longer be permitted to bring cattle, sheep, goat, and pig meat, as well as dairy products, from EU countries into Great Britain for personal use. This is to safeguard the health of British livestock, the security of farmers, and the UK's food security, the ECHO reports.

This includes bringing items like sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats, or milk into the UK, regardless of whether they are packed or packaged or whether they have been bought duty-free. The ban applies to cattle, pig, sheep, and goat meat and cattle dairy, pig, sheep, and goat dairy.

DEFRA officials state that FMD poses no risk to humans and there are no cases in the UK, but it is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals such as wild boar, deer, llamas and alpacas.

The outbreak on the continent presents a significant risk to farm businesses and livestock.

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) can lead to significant economic losses due to production shortfalls in the affected animals, as well as loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat and dairy.

Earlier this year, the government responded to confirmed outbreaks of FMD in Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria by banning personal imports of cattle, sheep and other ruminants and pig meat, as well as dairy products, from these countries.

The new restrictions only apply to travellers arriving in Great Britain, and will not be imposed on personal imports arriving from Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man.

Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner stated: "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."

.UK Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer for international and trade affairs Dr Jorge Martin-Almagro said: "Following the detection of foot and mouth disease in EU countries resulting in a rising risk of introduction into Great Britain, we have extended restrictions on the personal imports of food products that pose a risk in FMD transmission.

"Robust contingency plans are already in place to manage the risk of this disease to protect farmers and Britain's food security. This biosecurity measure combined with all others we have implemented are critical to limit the risk of FMD incursion.

"I would urge livestock keepers to continue exercising the upmost vigilance for signs of disease, ensure scrupulous biosecurity is maintained and to report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency."

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Information for travellers entering GB

For travellers entering GB, starting from Saturday 12 April, it will be illegal for anyone coming from EU countries to Great Britain to bring in items such as sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats or milk.

This applies irrespective of whether these items are unpacked or packaged, including purchases made at duty-free shops.

The public can access detailed information which outlines a few exceptions to these rules. For instance, small quantities of baby milk, medical foods, and certain composite products like chocolate, sweets, bread, cakes, biscuits, and pasta are still permitted.

Those caught with prohibited items will be required to either give them up at the border or face having them confiscated and disposed of. In severe cases, individuals found in possession of these items could face fines of up to £5,000 in England.