UK bans personal imports of meat, dairy products from all EU countries

IANS April 12, 2025 248 views

The United Kingdom has dramatically expanded its ban on personal food imports from EU countries due to spreading foot-and-mouth disease. Travelers entering the UK will now be prohibited from bringing any meat or dairy products from European nations, with potential fines up to 5,000 pounds for violations. While the disease does not threaten human health, it represents a significant risk to livestock and agricultural economies. These strict measures aim to protect British farm animals and maintain national food security.

"This measure aims to protect the health of British livestock" - UK Government Statement
England, April 12: The United Kingdom government announced that it has expanded its ban on personal imports of meat and dairy products to include all European Union (EU) countries as foot-and-mouth disease spreads across the continent.

Key Points

1

UK implementing strict border controls on EU food imports

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Foot-and-mouth disease threatens livestock across Europe

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Travelers face fines up to 5,000 pounds for non-compliance

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Disease poses no human health risk but impacts animal agriculture

Starting Saturday, travellers entering the UK will no longer be allowed to bring cattle, sheep, goat, pig meat and dairy products from all EU countries for personal use.

Items such as sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats and milk are prohibited regardless of their packaging or whether they were purchased at duty-free shops, reports Xinhua news agency.

This measure aims to protect the health of British livestock, the security of farmers and the UK's food security, according to the government.

Travellers found carrying these items will be required to surrender them at the border or face confiscation and destruction. In severe cases, violators could incur fines of up to 5,000 pounds (6,550 US dollars) in England.

Earlier this year, the UK government banned personal imports of cattle, sheep, other ruminants and pig meat, as well as dairy products from Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria, following confirmed outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in these countries. The new restrictions now apply to all EU nations.

Although foot-and-mouth disease poses no risk to humans, and there are currently no cases in the UK, it is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs, wild boar, deer, llamas and alpacas.

The outbreak of the disease on the continent presents a significant threat to farm businesses and livestock health, as it can cause substantial economic losses due to reduced productivity in affected animals and restricted access to international markets for meat and dairy products.

Reader Comments

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Sarah K.
This seems like a sensible precaution given the outbreaks. Farmers have been through enough with Brexit adjustments - we need to protect our agriculture sector. Though I'll miss bringing back French cheeses from my trips! 🧀
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Mike T.
£5000 fine seems excessive for a ham sandwich. The policy makes sense but the punishment doesn't fit the crime. Maybe start with warnings first?
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Lisa P.
As someone who works in agriculture, I fully support this. Foot-and-mouth can devastate entire herds. Prevention is much better than dealing with an outbreak. Thank you DEFRA for acting quickly!
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David R.
How will this be enforced? I've seen border control miss way more obvious things. Unless they're going to search every bag, this seems like security theater.
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Anita W.
I understand the need for precautions, but the timing is terrible with summer holidays coming up. Maybe the government could have phased this in or provided more notice? Families traveling with kids often rely on packed foods.
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Tom B.
Good move. We can't risk our livestock over some salami. British cheese is world-class anyway - support local producers! 🇬🇧

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Tags:
UK Border Control European Union Foot-and-Mouth Disease Agricultural Safety Food Import Restrictions
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