Importing food from outside EU
Monday 8 January 2007
All food imports of products of animal origin, such as meat and dairy products, from countries outside the EU must enter the UK through designated Border Inspection Posts. These are operated by local port health authorities and food enforcement officers from local authorities.
The identity and documentation (such as veterinary health certificates) of all these products are checked. Some products will also be checked physically. This might include looking, smelling or tasting the food, testing temperatures, checking wrapping and labelling, or laboratory testing. These controls are the same throughout the EU.
Food that isn't of animal origin from countries outside the EU must also comply with UK law in relation to food safety and standards. Port health authorities and local food authorities have powers to check food products when they come into the UK.
The EU Member States
The EU Member States are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. See a map of the Member States on the European Commission website.