The import of products of animal origin by travellers and in personal consignments

Regulation (EU) No 2019/2122, regulates the import of products of animal origin that are solely for personal consumption.

As the introduction of epidemic animal diseases into the EU through the import of products of animal origin that travellers bring with them in their luggage or that are sent (including through distance selling) in small consignments to individuals cannot be excluded, the import of such products into the EU is subject to strict veterinary regulation.

When meat or milk, or meat or dairy products such as sausage or cheese are imported for personal consumption they must meet the same veterinary requirements as those applying to commercial imports.

This means that travellers who are carrying such products may only enter the European Union through those points of entry where a veterinarian is on duty. The necessary health certificates and a validated Common Health Entry Document (CHED) must also accompany the products.

Products such as the following are excepted from these regulations, and so travellers can import them within the regulation quantity thresholds without any hesitation:

• up to two kilogrammes of infant food and special foods required for medical reasons, in unbroken packages,
• other animal products than meat or milk and/or meat or milk products up to a weight of two kilogrammes (honey, for example), and
• fishery products (such as fresh, cooked, or smoked fish, or certain crustaceans such as prawns or lobsters) the total weight of which does not exceed 20 kilogrammes or the weight of one fish, whichever weight is the greater.

In addition, there are special regulations for imports from the Faeroe Islands and Greenland. Here the permitted quantity limits for the various types of product (except for fishery products) are in each case ten kilogrammes.

Should the products not meet the import requirements the consignments will be rejected by the customs. In such cases they must be disposed of on the spot.

However, these restrictions do not apply to travel between EU Member States, nor do they apply to the import of products of animal origin from Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Northern Ireland, Norway, San Marino, or Switzerland. Neither do they apply to the import of fishery products for personal consumption from the Faeroe Islands and Greenland.

Where can I find more information?

You should request information in good time from the regionally competent veterinary authorities. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the competent German veterinary border inspection posts, and the veterinary authorities competent for your place of residence can supply additional information about the import of products of animal origin by individuals when travelling or by post, and your local competent customs office can supply information about any questions concerning any declaration procedures planned or already initiated by you.

Competent veterinary border inspection posts (in German)PDF | 44 KB | Not a barrier-free file