Wedoany.com Report-Apr. 14, The UK has introduced new restrictions on personal imports of meat and dairy products to safeguard its farming sector from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Effective immediately, travelers entering Britain from European Union countries are prohibited from bringing in items such as beef, sheep, goat, or pig meat, as well as dairy products like cheese, milk, or cured meats, regardless of packaging or purchase location, including duty-free shops.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) clarified that exemptions apply to small quantities of infant milk, medical foods, and certain products like chocolate, bread, cakes, biscuits, pasta, and confectionery. These measures, announced in 2025, aim to reduce the risk of FMD, a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs, and deer. DEFRA emphasized that FMD poses no threat to human health and no cases have been reported in the UK.
Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said: “This government will do whatever it takes to protect British farmers from foot and mouth. That is why we are further strengthening protections by introducing restrictions on personal meat and dairy imports to prevent the spread of the disease and protect Britain’s food security.”
Dr. Jorge Martin-Almagro, UK Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer for international and trade affairs, said: “Following the detection of foot-and-mouth disease in EU countries resulting in a rising risk of introduction into Great Britain, we have extended restrictions on the personal imports of food products that pose a risk in FMD transmission. I would urge livestock keepers to continue exercising the utmost vigilance for signs of disease, ensure scrupulous biosecurity is maintained and to report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.”
The restrictions do not apply to travelers from Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man. Items brought in violation of the rules will be surrendered or seized and destroyed at the border. In England, non-compliance may lead to fines of up to £5,000 in serious cases.
The UK Chief Veterinary Officer has called for livestock keepers to stay alert for FMD symptoms, which include sores, blisters, fever, lameness, or reluctance to feed in cattle, and lameness or blistering in sheep and pigs. FMD is a notifiable disease, requiring immediate reporting to authorities.
These measures build on earlier restrictions this year targeting personal imports from Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria following confirmed FMD cases. The updated rules aim to provide clarity for travelers and strengthen biosecurity to support Britain’s agricultural community and food supply chain.
