UK/EU. A new ban by the British government on bringing back cattle, sheep, goat and pig meat, as well as dairy products, from EU countries for personal use is yet another blow to hard-pressed European airport retailers.
The move was prompted by a series of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks across Europe.
The government stated on its website: “From Saturday 12 April, it will be illegal for travellers from all EU countries entering Great Britain to bring items like sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats or milk into the country.
“This is regardless of whether it is packed or packaged or whether it has been bought at duty free.”
The ban will affect sales of items such as cheeses, salamis and other cured meats popular in destination merchandise and duty-free stoers.
There are certain exemptions (see list below), including most chocolate and confectionery (but not, confusingly, those “made with a lot of unprocessed dairy ingredients”).
Travellers found with banned items will need to either surrender them at the border or have them seized and destroyed. In serious cases, those found with these items run the risk of incurring fines of up to £5,000 (US$6,670).
