BREXIT – Check your lunchbox

26 January 2021

As a consequence of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, drivers travelling to the EU will be unable to have on their person certain food and drink. This is a result of increased restrictions to personal imports, which constitutes items kept in an individual’s luggage, vehicles or on someone’s person. The intricate rules of what people can and can’t bring into the EU in terms of personal importations and/or foodstuffs are laid down in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2122, however, the Commission has published some more accessible, user-friendly guidance here:

https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/animalproducts/personal_imports_en

There are some weight thresholds and certain exemptions, but the general rule appears to be that products of animal origin (POAO), for example, meat and dairy. cannot be brought into the EU. Nor should plants and plant products be brought into the EU. The underlying reason for these restrictions is to prevent hostile pathogens and potentially hazardous bacteria being brought into the EU, with the potential to bring or spread foreign diseases, such as ‘foot and mouth’ disease.

This should be borne in mind by drivers who are travelling over to the EU and want to take in their lunchbox or in their cab any foodstuff that might make up POAO. You may find that such goods are confiscated at the point of entry into the European Union.

Please contact our Regulatory team on regulatory@backhouses.co.uk or 01254 828300 if you require further information.