UK Bans Meat, Dairy Imports from EU

The British government announced on Friday that it has expanded its ban on personal imports of meat and dairy products to cover all European Union countries, following the spread of foot-and-mouth disease across the continent.

Starting Saturday, travelers arriving in the United Kingdom are prohibited from bringing beef, lamb, goat, and pork products, as well as dairy items, from any EU nation for personal use.

The ban applies to a wide range of products, including sandwiches, cheese, processed meats, raw meats, and milk, regardless of how they are packaged or whether they were purchased from duty-free outlets.

The government stated that the new measure is designed to protect the health of British livestock, safeguard farmers, and ensure national food security.

Travelers found carrying banned items must surrender them at the border, where they will be confiscated and destroyed. In serious cases, offenders could face fines of up to £5,000 ($6,550) in England.

Earlier this year, the UK had already restricted personal imports of meat and dairy products from Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria after outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease were confirmed in these countries. The updated regulations now extend to all EU member states.

Although foot-and-mouth disease poses no threat to human health and no cases have been reported in Britain, the virus is highly contagious among cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs, wild boars, deer, llamas, and alpacas.