The lesser-known Christmas items banned from the UK
HEADING off to Europe before Christmas to fill up your suitcase with goodies? Make sure to check what you can and can’t bring back into the UK first.
New rules that came into play last year stop Brits from bringing some festive favourite foods back into the country.
As of April 12, 2025, an updated ban was brought in on bringing certain food items back into the UK due to the presence of foot and mouth disease in the EU.
Whether you travel by car, ferry, train, air or even foot – these rules still apply – so what is on the no-go list?
The GOV.UK website details all of the food restrictions which include milk and dairy products.
If you had planned on bringing back some tasty brie, camembert, Comté or Roquefort for the Christmas cheese board, it’s a no-go.
Other tasty treats containing dairy won’t be allowed either.
If you head to Italy for some cannoli, this won’t be able to be brought back as it contains ricotta and or fresh cream – both of which are banned.
If you’re desperate, then bring back the empty pastry shells and add cream once back in the UK.
This also counts for fresh filled pastries like doughnut or eclairs if they have cream or custard in the middle.
Popular pastel de nata’s are a treat that will have to be enjoyed whilst in Portugal as the flaky pastry shells are filled with rich egg custard.
Filled choux buns which usually come from Germany are also off the menu – unless they aren’t filled with the fresh cream.
It isn’t just dairy, meat products are banned too.
Products like sausages, ham, prosciutto and chorizo which appear on festive plates, are also not allowed back into the UK.
Other meat products like pâté can’t be brought back either.
Anyone bringing back prohibited goods into the UK could face penalties and have the products destroyed.
So, passengers should check labels carefully before packing gifts, particularly those containing sauces or creamy fillings which might include dairy.
From the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Faroe Islands and Greenland you can bring in other food items like fish, poultry, eggs and honey.
Here’s the official FCDO advise on bringing products back into the UK…
From the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Faroe Islands and Greenland
You can bring in the following for personal use:
Fish
Poultry, for example chicken, duck, goose and any other products made from these meats
Other animal products, for example eggs and honey
Because of recent and ongoing animal disease outbreaks in the EU, there are restrictions in place for bringing in most meat and all dairy products.
Restrictions on meat, dairy and animal products for human consumption
You cannot bring in any of the following:
Cheese, milk and dairy products like butter and yoghurt
Pork
Beef
Lamb
Mutton
Goat
Venison
Other products made from these meats, like sausages.