Imported food

Different rules and restrictions apply depending on the type of food and whether this food has originated from within the EU or from outside the EU

You can bring the following into Great Britain from any country without any restrictions:

• bread, but not sandwiches filled with meat or dairy products
• cakes without fresh cream
• biscuits
• chocolate and confectionery, but not those made with a lot of unprocessed dairy ingredients
• pasta and noodles, but not if mixed or filled with meat or meat products
• packaged soup, stocks and flavourings
• processed and packaged plant products, such as packaged salads and frozen plant material
• food supplements containing small amounts of an animal product, such as fish oil capsules.

From the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Faroe Islands and Greenland

You can bring in the following for personal use:

• dairy
• fish
• meat (there are restrictions if you’re bringing in more than 2kgs of pork or pork products)
• other animal products - for example, eggs and honey.

You cannot bring in food from other countries on a connecting flight.

If you’re bringing in pork or pork products over 2kgs they must:

• be commercially packaged with an EU identification mark 
• or stamped with a health mark if it’s a carcass.

From countries outside the EU

If you’re bringing food from a country outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, the following rules apply.

You cannot bring in:

• meat or meat products
• milk or milk-based products, except powdered infant milk, infant food or special food (including pet food) needed for medical reasons.

You can bring in up to 2kg per person of:

• honey
• powdered infant milk, infant food, or special food (including pet food) needed for medical reasons - you can only bring it in if it does not need to be refrigerated before use, and is in branded, unopened packaging (unless in current use)
• shellfish, such as mussels or oysters
• snails - these must be preserved or shelled, cooked and prepared
• frogs’ legs - these must be the back (hind) part of the frog with the skin and internal organs removed
• insect meat.

You can bring in up to 20kg per person in total of fish, including:

• fresh fish - must be gutted
• fish products
• processed fish - must be dried, cooked, cured or smoked
• lobsters
• prawns.

You cannot bring in caviar unless you have a CITES permit.

Last updated: 30/03/2023 15:10