Holidaymakers advised "don't bring it back"

December 13 2009 , Written by thediversetraveller Published on #Travel News

When we’re in an exotic location, it can be fun to scour interesting markets and unusual shops for unique gourmet items that could transform your dinner at home, or make a fantastic and unusual gift for a friend.

In reality bringing illegal foods into the UK from outside of the EU, such as meat or dairy products, can increase the risk of diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease and Bird Flu entering the UK – putting people, animals and agriculture at risk. However many Brits are completely unaware that restrictions exist on food items.

Every year Border Force Officers seize and destroy an estimated 85 tonnes of food from long-haul holidaymakers, many of whom are confused about the differences in the personal import rules from outside and inside the European Union (EU). Food products seized include meat and dairy products, fish including shellfish, and honey.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is urging British holidaymakers jetting beyond the EU to think twice about the food items they bring back to the UK. The ‘Don’t bring it back campaign!’ is asking people to check the rules online before they go to avoid breaking the law and facing the embarrassment of having bags searched on the return to the UK.

Log onto live and interactive WebTV show to find out exactly what you can and can’t bring back from countries outside of the EU. On hand to answer your questions will be travel expert Simon Calder and Chris Pratt, a UK Border Force officer.

Click here to log onto WebTV for the discussion between

Simon Calder and Chris Pratt on personal food import restrictions.

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