Travellers from Eastern Europe urged to limit pork product imports

Pork is known to carry the ASF virus, so whilst it’s commonplace for ex-pats to enjoy bringing unique foods back from their homeland, the current limit for EU travellers is 2kg* of pork products and people travelling from non-EU countries are not allowed to bring any amount of pork items into Great Britain.

Gabriel Sandor, Director of Construction at RO Building (Image: Gabriel Sandor)

Gabriel Sandor, Director of Construction at RO Building, who is a Romanian living in London commented: "As any ex-pat knows, it’s part of normal life to bring some of your traditional home comfort foods back with you when you travel. We love receiving those delicious food gifts from family and friends and bringing them back to celebrate those culinary tastes that you may not be able to buy in shops here.

"However, with the ongoing spread of African swine fever, it’s important to follow the rules for pork products to stop the spread of the disease and to avoid any food being confiscated and wasted!"

The current limit for EU travellers is 2kg* of pork products and people travelling from non-EU countries are not allowed to bring any amount of pork items into Great Britain. Gabriel also explained that the rules also apply to those driving back from Eastern Europe:

"There’s a border check between France and UK, so the rules don’t just apply to those who are flying back to Great Britain, but to anyone driving back too."

Although the virus poses no threat to human health, an outbreak of ASF in the UK would have a devastating impact on our pork and pig industries. It would severely affect pig health and welfare and the UK’s ability to trade pigs and pork products.

To reduce the risk of spreading ASF, protect the environment and the livelihoods of those working in Britain’s food and farming businesses, the government are urging any leftover food waste and packaging that is brought over to be disposed of in a secure bin where wildlife can’t access it. 

Lizzie Wilson, Chief Executive of the National Pig Association (Image: Lizzie Wilson)

Lizzie Wilson, Chief Executive of the National Pig Association comments: "We’re now at a crucial time in doing everything possible to prevent African swine fever from entering Great Britain.

"It’s important people travelling to and from Great Britain abide by the rules to help protect the health and welfare of the pig herd in this country as well as the livelihoods of people working in food and farming jobs. Therefore, we’re asking travellers to avoid bringing pork products back especially when travelling from areas affected by African swine fever."

For more information about African swine fever and the quantity of pork you are allowed to travel with, go to: www.gov.uk/bringing-food-into-great-britain/meat-dairy-fish-animal-products

*The rules on bringing meat, dairy, fish and other animal products depend on the country you’re bringing it from.

From the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, you can only bring in pork or pork products over 2kgs if they’re either:

• commercially packaged with an EU identification mark 
• stamped with a health mark if it’s a carcass

If you’re bringing in animal by-products they must be commercially packaged with the name and address of the feed business operator or have an animal by-product commercial document.

If you need to dispose of any pork or pork products before entering the UK, you must do it in a secure bin.