Information about the import of some products of animal origin into de European Union (EU)
“There are strict procedures in place for the import of some products of animal origin into the European Union (EU) due to the risk of introduction of diseases. These procedures do not apply to the import of products of animal origin between EU Member States, nor do they apply to the import of products of animal origin in small amounts for personal consumption from Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino, and/or Switzerland.
All products of animal origin that do not meet these requirements must be handed over for official disposal. Not declaring these products may result in a fine or in criminal charges.
The following products shall not be introduced into the EU, unless the combined weight of products listed in items 2, 3 and 5 is below 2 kilograms per person.
For products from the Faeroe Islands or Greenland, the combined weight of products listed in items 1, 2, 3 and 5 shall not exceed 10 kilograms per person.
1. Small amounts of meat, milk, meat products and milk-based products (except powdered infant milk, infant food or special food needed for medical reasons or pet food for service animals needed for medical reasons)
You may only bring or send to the EU personal amounts of meat, milk, meat products and milk-based products (except powdered infant milk, infant food or special food needed for medical reasons or pet food for service animals needed for medical reasons) if they come from the Faeroe Islands or Greenland, and their weight does not exceed 10 kilograms per person.
2. Powdered infant milk, infant food and special food needed for medical reasons
You may only bring or send to the EU personal amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food and special food needed for medical reasons if:
• they come from the Faeroe Islands or Greenland; their combined weight does not exceed 10 kilograms per person; and
a) they do not need to be refrigerated before use;
b) they are commercially branded and packaged; and
c) they are in unopened packaging, unless in current use;
• they come from other countries (other than the Faeroe Islands or Greenland); their combined weight does not exceed 2 kilograms per person; and
a) they do not need to be refrigerated before consumption;
b) they are commercially branded and packaged; and
c) they are in unopened packaging, unless in current use;
3. Pet food for service animals needed for medical reasons
You may only bring or send to the EU personal amounts of pet food for service animals needed for medical reasons if:
• they come from the Faeroe Islands or Greenland; their combined weight does not exceed 10 kilograms per person; and
a) they do not need to be refrigerated before consumption;
b) they are commercially branded and packaged; and
c) they are in unopened packaging, unless in current use;
• they come from other countries (other than the Faeroe Islands or Greenland); their combined weight does not exceed 2 kilograms per person; and
a) they do not need to be refrigerated before consumption;
b) they are commercially branded and packaged; and
c) they are in unopened packaging, unless in current use;
4. Small amounts of fish products for personal human consumption
You may only bring or send to the EU personal amounts of fish products (including fresh, dried, cooked, cured or smoked fish, and some kinds of shellfish, such as prawns, lobsters, dead mussels and dead oysters) if:
• fresh fish has been gutted;
• the weight of fish products per person does not exceed 20 kilograms or, if higher, the weight of a fish.
These restrictions do not apply to fish products coming from the Faeroe Islands or Greenland.
5. Small amounts of other products of animal origin for personal human consumption
You may only bring or send to the EU personal amounts of other products of animal origin, such as honey, live oysters, and live mussels or snails if:
• they come from the Faeroe Islands or Greenland, and their combined weight does not exceed 10 kilograms per person;
• they come from other countries (other than the Faeroe Islands or Greenland), and their combined weight does not exceed 2 kilograms per person.
You may bring or send to the EU small amounts of products of animal origin included in any of the five categories explained above (items 1-5) if they all comply with the relevant rules.
6. Larger amounts of products of animal origin
You may bring or send to the EU larger amounts of products of animal origin that comply with the requirements of commercial shipment, including:
• the certification requirements, as established in the relevant EU official certificate;
• the submission of products and the appropriate documentation to a Border Control Post of entry into the EU.
7. Products not subject to these rules
The following products are not subject to the rules explained in items 1-6:
• bread, cakes, cookies, wafers, toasted bread and similar toasted products containing less than 20% of dairy or egg products, in accordance with Article 6, Paragraph 1, Letter a), Point i) of Commission Decision 2007/275/EC (1);
• chocolate and confectionery (including sweets) containing less than 50% of dairy or egg products, in accordance with Article 6, Paragraph 1, Letter a), Point i) of Commission Decision 2007/275/EC;
• food supplements packaged for the final consumer, containing small amounts (less than 20% total) of processed animal product (including glucosamine, chondroitin, chitosan, or chondroitin and chitosan), except for meat products;
• olives stuffed with fish;
• pasta and noodles not mixed or filled with meat product, containing less than 50% of dairy or egg products, in accordance with Article 6, Paragraph 1, Letter a), Point i) of Commission Decision 2007/275/EC;
• soup stocks and flavorings packaged for the final consumer, containing less than 50% of fish oils, powders or extracts, in accordance with Article 6, Paragraph 1, Letter a), Point i) of Commission Decision 2007/275/EC.”