What do you want to import?
Find out more about the food you want to import.
Find out more
Trade samples
Trade samples of food can be imported for test marketing, research and development, or quality assurance purposes.
Importing composite products
A composite product is defined in European Union (EU) legislation as a foodstuff intended for human consumption that contains both processed products of animal origin and products of plant origin. It also includes foodstuffs where the processing of the primary product is an essential part of producing the final product.
Importing cakes or sweets
Cakes, pastries, sweet pies and chocolate can contain small amounts of products of animal origin, such as eggs, milk, butter or suet. They may be treated as products of animal origin when they are imported if they have high levels of dairy products and have not undergone sufficient heat treatment or if they are not ambient stable.
Importing dairy products
There are strict rules about importing dairy products from outside the European Union (EU).
Importing eggs or egg products
There are strict rules about importing eggs and egg products.
Importing fishery products or bivalve molluscs
There are strict rules for the commercial import from outside the European Union (EU) of fishery products, bivalve molluscs and products that contain them.
Importing fruit or vegetables
All fruit and vegetable imports must follow UK law on issues such as pesticides and labelling. There are also rules that relate specifically to particular types of fruit or vegetable.
Importing gelatine
There are strict rules on importing gelatine and foods containing gelatine.
Importing honey
There are strict rules about importing honey, and products containing these.
Importing meat, poultry or wild game
There are strict rules on importing red meat, poultry, farmed and wild game and foods containing these.
Trade information sheets
Information sheets for traders are available, giving advice about importing certain foodstuffs, any current import restrictions that apply, and where you can find information on labelling, marketing standards, additives (colourings, flavourings and certain preservatives) and pesticides. Foodstuffs covered include sauces, oils, nuts, cereals, herbs, sugar, salt, cakes, supplements and drinks.