UK tourists warned: £5,000 fine for bringing banned food items home from holiday
UK tourists are being warned they could face a hefty fine of up to £5,000 if they attempt to bring certain food products back from European holidays, even if it’s just a simple sandwich or a wedge of cheese.
In response to a rise in foot and mouth disease (FMD) across parts of Europe, the UK government has toughened its border controls, particularly on meat and dairy imports from EU countries. The new rules came into force on April 12 and apply to travellers entering Great Britain.
The message is clear: don’t bring meat or dairy-based items through customs, whether they were shop-bought, gift-wrapped, or picked up at duty-free.
“Serious cases could result in fines of up to £5,000 in England,” government officials have confirmed. Those caught with banned items must either surrender them at the border or face having them confiscated and destroyed.
What’s not allowed? Items like:
- Sandwiches with meat or dairy
- Cheese
- Cured or raw meats
- Milk
Even if the products are sealed and labelled, they still breach the new regulations. Officials aren’t interested in the packaging, it’s what’s inside that matters.
So, what can UK tourists safely pack in their luggage? The government has listed safe items, including:
- Plain bread (no meat or dairy fillings)
- Cakes without fresh cream
- Chocolate and sweets (as long as they don’t contain unprocessed dairy)
- Dry pasta and noodles (not mixed with meat)
- Sealed soups and stocks
- Processed plant-based items like packaged salads
- Fish oil capsules and other small-animal-content supplements
Also permitted are up to 2kg per person of powdered infant milk, medical food, or specialist dietary items, but only if they’re sealed and don’t need refrigeration.
This crackdown isn’t about human health. FMD doesn’t affect people. But it poses a major threat to British agriculture. The disease, highly contagious among livestock, could devastate farms if it takes hold. It affects cattle, pigs, sheep, deer, and other hoofed animals.
Though the UK remains free of FMD, the government says the growing number of cases in Europe means action is needed. By tightening customs checks, they’re hoping to protect the farming sector from a potential outbreak.
So, if you’re flying home from a break in Spain or a weekend in France, think twice before stashing that cheese or sausage in your suitcase. It could cost you far more than you bargained for.
