Brits planning Easter getaways are being advised of fresh travel restrictions. New rules on personal imports from certain countries, which kicked in on April 12, relate to prohibited items that travellers cannot bring back into the UK.
The Government flagged this update on social media amidst the buzz of holidaymakers gearing up for trips abroad this Easter. The Government issued the warning via its social media channels saying bringing home meats like beef, pork, lamb, mutton, venison, and goat, as well as all dairy products including cheese, butter, and yoghurt from European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) countries is now banned.
The EEA, which is EU states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, functions under the EU's single market umbrella. The new import regulations also cover fruits, vegetables, and various seeds and nuts.
The message on X read: "Important changes to personal imports: You can no longer bring meat or dairy products from EU or EEA countries into Great Britain for personal use.
"This includes beef, pork, lamb, mutton, venison and goat meat, and all dairy products like cheese, butter or yoghurt. If you're travelling over Easter weekend, check what you can and can't bring back before you go."
Meanwhile, an official statement on the Government website outlined: "There are rules for bringing food or animal products into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for your own use.
"There are different rules if you're bringing food or animal products into Northern Ireland. There are restrictions on bringing meat, dairy, fish and animal products and fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds into Great Britain from abroad.
"If you're bringing in any food or animal products protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), you may need to apply for a CITES permit."
However, holidaymakers can still bring certain items like bread - just avoid sandwiches with meat or dairy - cakes without fresh cream, biscuits, and sweets, barring those with substantial unprocessed dairy ingredients.
You are also good to go with pasta and noodles, as long as they are free from meaty fillings or mix-ins, along with sealed soups, broths, and flavour enhancers, processed plant goodies like packaged salads and frozen plant material, and even nutritional aids boasting minimal animal content, such as fish oil pills.
