Quick answer
Security lets solid meat and cheese through, but the country you land in usually decides. Great Britain bans meat and dairy from outside the EU and, because of animal disease outbreaks, also bans dairy, pork, beef, lamb and goat from the EU. The United States prohibits many meats and asks you to declare all food.
Source: GOV.UK: meat, dairy, fish and animal products, checked 7 Nov 2026
Into Great Britain from the EU
Banned: cheese, milk, butter, yoghurt and other dairy; pork, beef, lamb, mutton, goat and venison, and products made from them such as sausages
Allowed for personal use: fish, poultry and their products, eggs and honey
Infant and medical food: up to 2 kg per person, branded and unopened unless in use
Source: GOV.UK, checked 7 Nov 2026
Into Great Britain from outside the EU
Banned: meat and meat products, milk and milk-based products
Fish: up to 20 kg per person in total (gutted, dried, cooked, cured or smoked)
Up to 2 kg: honey, infant milk and food, special medical food
Source: GOV.UK, checked 7 Nov 2026
Into the United States
Declare: all meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animals and their products
Meat: many fresh, dried and some canned meats are prohibited, as are products with meat from restricted countries, such as beef broth
Penalty: items not declared are confiscated; fines of up to $1,000 for a first offence
Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, checked 7 Nov 2026
What do other countries say about meat and dairy?
| Country | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fiji | Declare all food, plants, animal products, used equipment to Biosecurity Authority; spot fine FJD 400 | frcs.org.fj checked 5 Nov 2026 |
| Lesotho | Plant and animal products restricted/prohibited (pulses, dairy, livestock, eggs, wool, hides listed) | rsl.org.ls checked 6 Nov 2026 |
| Maldives | Pork prohibited | maldiveshighcommission.uk checked 5 Nov 2026 |
| Serbia | Special permits needed for live animals, animal products and pets; pets need permanent marking, plus veterinary passport | oslo.mfa.gov.rs checked 6 Nov 2026 |
| Switzerland | Meat (excl. game) 1 kg duty-free | bazg.admin.ch checked 5 Nov 2026 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Food (meat, fruit, vegetables) must be declared on Form C15 | tntairports.com checked 6 Nov 2026 |
| United Kingdom | Meat and dairy from most non-EU countries banned; plant products restricted; CITES permits | gov.uk checked 7 Nov 2026 |
| United States | Declare all meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animals; undeclared prohibited items confiscated; penalty up to USD 1,000 first offence | cbp.gov checked 5 Nov 2026 |