Can I bring food into Great Britain?
Pick where you are travelling from and what is in your bag. The checker applies official personal import rules for England, Scotland and Wales.
Important geographic notice: This checker applies to arrivals into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Northern Ireland follows different sanitary and phytosanitary rules.
Dairy products currently cannot be brought into Great Britain from the EU or outside the EU for personal use due to animal disease restrictions. Border Force will seize and destroy them.
Raw milk Camembert cheese
From: France
Customs quiz score
UK customs rules are counter-intuitive: EU chicken is allowed, but EU parmesan and ham are banned; mango from India passes freely, but Turkish strawberries are seized.
Official rules summary by category
Summary of requirements set by DEFRA and UK Border Force for passenger arrivals.
🍞 Unrestricted from any country
The following foods can be brought in without limits or health certificates:
- Plain bread (no meat or dairy filling)
- Biscuits and cookies
- Cakes without fresh cream
- Chocolate and confectionery (plain)
- Dry pasta and noodles (unfilled)
- Roasted coffee, tea, spices, and olive oil
- Pickles, spreads, and canned vegetables
🇪🇺 Products from EU and EFTA countries
Due to animal disease outbreaks, products are strictly partitioned:
- PERMITTED: Poultry (chicken, duck, turkey), fish, eggs, honey.
- PROHIBITED: All cheese and dairy products (butter, yoghurt, milk).
- PROHIBITED: Pork and pork products (ham, bacon, salami).
- PROHIBITED: Beef, lamb, mutton, goat, and venison.
🌍 From countries outside the EU (third countries)
For arrivals from third countries (US, Turkey, India, UAE, etc.):
- MEAT AND DAIRY: Completely banned for personal travellers.
- HONEY: Permitted up to 2 kg per person.
- FISH: Permitted up to 20 kg total (fresh fish must be gutted).
- SNAILS AND MUSSELS: Permitted up to 2 kg per person.
🥭 Exempt fruits from any origin
Only these fruits may enter freely from anywhere without a phytosanitary certificate:
- Pineapple, bananas and plantains, mango, coconut
- Citrus (oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins)
- Kiwi, dates, passion fruit, kumquat
- Persimmon, durian, guava, curry leaves
- Other fresh produce (apples, strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes) requires a phytosanitary certificate.
⚠️ What happens if you bring banned food?
If you declare banned food products to Border Force officers at customs (in the red channel or on the red point phone), they will seize and destroy them without financial penalties.
If you do not declare banned food products and are found carrying them, you could be fined up to £5,000 (in England) or face criminal prosecution.