British travellers returning from Europe are now banned from bringing meat and dairy products into the country under strict new rules introduced by the Government.
The sweeping restrictions, which came into force on Saturday 12 April, mean popular items such as cheese, butter, cured meats and even ham and cheese sandwiches are no longer allowed to be brought into Great Britain from EU or EEA countries.
The ban is part of a Government effort to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, a highly contagious virus affecting livestock, which has recently been detected in parts of Europe.
In a social media post, the Government said: ‘You can no longer bring meat or dairy products from EU or EEA countries into Great Britain for personal use.
‘This includes beef, pork, lamb, mutton, venison and goat meat, and all dairy products like cheese, butter or yoghurt.
‘If you’re travelling over Easter weekend, check what you can and can’t bring back before you go.’
The move has left many holidaymakers surprised, particularly those returning from short breaks who may have purchased local food as souvenirs or snacks.
The sweeping restrictions, which came into force on Saturday 12 April, mean popular items such as cheese, butter, cured meats and even ham and cheese sandwiches are no longer allowed to be brought into Great Britain from EU or EEA countries
The ban is part of a Government effort to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, a highly contagious virus affecting livestock, which has recently been detected in parts of Europe
Items now prohibited include sandwiches containing meat or cheese, raw or cured meats, milk and dairy-based products, even if sealed and store-bought.
The ban applies only to Great Britain – England, Scotland and Wales – and will not affect travellers entering from Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, where the rules remain unchanged.
The Government said the changes are ‘to protect the health of British livestock, the security of farmers, and the UK’s food security’, as a precaution against the risk of importing the disease from affected regions in the EU.
While there are no current cases of foot-and-mouth in the UK, officials say the risk has increased due to recent outbreaks on the continent.
The restrictions build on existing rules already in place for countries such as Hungary, Germany, Austria and Slovakia.
According to the official guidelines, travellers may still bring in up to 2kg per person of powdered infant milk, infant food, or specialised food for medical reasons, provided the product is in branded, unopened packaging and does not require refrigeration before use.
While there are no current cases of foot-and-mouth in the UK, officials say the risk has increased due to recent outbreaks on the continent
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) poses no risk to humans but can have devastating consequences for the farming industry, affecting animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and deer.
The last major UK outbreak in 2001 led to widespread culling and serious economic losses for farmers.
Travellers planning European holidays in the coming months are being urged to check the latest regulations before packing food items in their luggage to avoid having them confiscated at the border.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .