Banned or restricted products

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• 'High-risk' products of non-animal origin from India, Ghana and Nigeria under Regulation (EU) No 91/2013

  Friday 15 February 2013

  Specific conditions are applicable to the import of certain products of non-animal origin from India, Ghana and Nigeria for the presence of aflatoxins or pesticide residues.

• 'High-risk' products of non-animal origin under Regulation (EC) No 669/2009

  Friday 3 May 2013

  Safeguard controls on certain 'high-risk' feed and food listed in Annex I of Regulation (EC) No. 669/2009, as amended. The latest amendments are Regulation (EU) No 1235/2012 and Regulation (EU) 270/2013 (which applies from 1 April 2013).

• Aflatoxin contamination of products of non-animal origin under Regulation (EC) No 1152/2009

  Thursday 20 September 2012

  Safeguard controls on certain food products due to aflatoxin contamination under Regulation (EC) No. 1152/2009.

• Calabash chalk warning

  Monday 29 September 2003

  Calabash chalk is not a conventional food, but is eaten by some pregnant women, traditionally those from the Nigerian and wider West African community, as a remedy for morning sickness. The Food Standards Agency has advised people, especially pregnant and breast-feeding women, not to eat Calabash chalk, because samples tested have revealed high levels of lead.

• Contaminated spices and palm oils

  Wednesday 28 December 2011

  There have been some problems with certain spices being contaminated.

• Foodstuffs with current EU restrictions

  Monday 24 October 2011

  Specific products not of animal origin are currently under harmonised controls in the European Union (EU) that control their importation from specific non-EU countries.

• Guar gum and feed and food containing guar gum from India

  Monday 12 April 2010

  Safeguard controls on guar gum and products that contain guar gum apply from 15 April 2010.

• Import ban on Jelly Sweets

  Saturday 16 January 2010

  Jelly sweets containing a thickening agent called konjac (E425) are banned in the UK and the rest of the EU. This is because there is a risk of choking. These sweets are widely available in Japan and the Far East.

• Import of feed and food originating in or consigned from Japan

  Monday 9 July 2012

  Following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, safeguard controls have been reinforced on all imported feed and food products originating in or consigned from Japan. The safeguard controls are implemented by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 996/2012.

• Imports of products of animal origin from China

  Tuesday 22 December 2009

  From 26 July 2005 some products of animal origin can be imported into the European Union from China as long as they comply with specific animal and public health conditions.

• Kava kava import ban

  Tuesday 24 January 2006

  Kava Kava, a member of the pepper family, is as a traditional herbal remedy for the treatment of anxiety. The herb has been banned since 13 January 2003. This is because of concerns about its toxic effect on the liver. So you cannot import kava kava supplements, or foods containing this herb.

• Pine nuts from China

  Wednesday 11 April 2012

  Following consumer complaints about a long lasting bitter taste (‘pine-mouth’) that can occur after eating pine nuts originating from China, rules are being applied in China prior to export to the EU.

• Plastic kitchenware from China and Hong Kong under Regulation (EU) No 284/2011

  Wednesday 15 June 2011

  Additional import controls for certain polyamide and melamine plastic kitchenware from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, under Regulation (EU) No 284/2011.

• Red 2G colouring prohibition

  Wednesday 8 August 2007

  Following a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) evaluation of the food colouring Red 2G (E128), the European Commission has prohibited imports of food containing Red 2G, because the colouring may have genotoxic and carcinogenic effects that can potentially damage cells and cause cancer in animals.

• Rice products from China

  Thursday 12 January 2012

  From 12 January 2012 Commission Implementing Decision (EU) No 2011/884/EU imposes emergency measures governing the import of specific rice products from China due to unauthorised genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and repeals Decision 2008/289/EC.

• Sunflower oil from Ukraine

  Friday 13 June 2008

  From 1 January 2010, consignments of sunflower oil and products containing sunflower oil, intended for the manufacture of foodstuffs for human consumption, originating in or consigned from Ukraine can only enter the EU if accompanied by a valid certificate certifying the absence of unacceptable levels of mineral paraffin together with the results of sampling and analysis for mineral paraffin.