Bringing food into Great Britain

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Meat, dairy, fish and animal products

The rules on bringing meat, dairy, fish and other animal products depend on the country you’re bringing it from.

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

You can bring in the following for personal use: 

  • fish 
  • poultry, for example chicken, duck, goose and any other products made from these meats 
  • other animal products, for example eggs and honey 

Because of recent and ongoing animal disease outbreaks in the EU, there are restrictions in place for bringing in most meat and all dairy products.

You can bring in up to 2kg per person of powdered infant milk, infant food, or special 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). 

Restrictions on meat, dairy and animal products for human consumption 

You cannot bring in any of the following: 

  • cheese, milk and dairy products like butter and yoghurt  
  • pork 
  • beef 
  • lamb 
  • mutton 
  • goat 
  • venison 
  • other products made from these meats, for example sausages 

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 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)
  • live 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 protein

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.

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