Foodstuffs with GB import restrictions

Controls exist on certain foodstuffs from certain countries to protect public health. These may either specify conditions of import or suspend imports depending on the risk.

Consignments of controlled products can only be imported through designated Border Control Points. On presentation, documentary checks must be carried out in addition to sampling and analysis or examination. This increase in official controls take place prior to a consignment being cleared for import. Specific products are currently under harmonised controls in the EU that control their importation from specific non-EU countries. 

Specific controls can be found below split by country. This list will be updated regularly.

The retained EU legislation (REUL) mentioned is listed below:

• REUL 2007/642/EC
• REUL 2020/1158
• REUL 2019/1793 as amended by 2022/1193
• REUL 2011/884
• REUL 2007/82/EC
• REUL 2010/381
• REUL 743/2013
• REUL 2006/199/EC
• REUL 1333/2008

Albania (AL)

Retained Commission Decision 2007/642/EC

Food

• Fishery products

Contaminant controlled

Histamines

Retained Regulation (EU) 2020/1158

Product

• Certain mushrooms and fruit of the genus Vaccinium.

Contaminant controlled

Caesium-137 following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station.

Argentina (AR)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food and feed

• Groundnuts (peanuts), in shell
• Groundnuts (peanuts), shelled
• Peanut butter
• Groundnuts (peanuts), otherwise prepared or preserved
• Groundnut flours and meals
• Oilcake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of groundnut oil

These restrictions apply to certain compound foods containing above 20% of a product (or sum of products) listed in Annex 2 (where they are listed due to the risk of aflatoxin).

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Azerbaijan (AZ)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

• Hazelnuts (Corylus sp.) in shell
• Hazelnuts (Corylus sp.) shelled
• Mixtures of nuts or dried fruits containing hazelnuts
• Hazelnut paste
• Hazelnuts, otherwise prepared or preserved, including mixtures
• Flour, meal and powder of hazelnuts
• Hazelnut oil

These restrictions apply to certain compound foods containing above 20% of a product (or sum of products) listed in Annex 2 (where they are listed due to the risk of aflatoxin).

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Bangladesh (BD)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

• Foodstuffs containing or consisting of betel leaves (Piper betle)

Contaminant controlled

Salmonella

Belarus (BY)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2020/1158

Product

• Certain mushrooms and fruit of the genus Vaccinium.

Contaminant controlled

Caesium-137 following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station.

Bolivia (BO)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food and feed

• Groundnuts (peanuts), in shell
• Groundnuts (peanuts), shelled
• Peanut butter
• Groundnuts (peanuts), otherwise prepared or preserved
• Groundnut flours and meals
• Oilcake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of groundnut oil

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2020/1158

Product

• Certain mushrooms and fruit of the genus Vaccinium.

Contaminant controlled

Caesium-137 following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station.

Brazil (BR)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food – neither crushed nor ground

• Black pepper (Piper)

Contaminant controlled

Salmonella

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

• Brazil nuts in shell
• Mixtures of nuts or dried fruits containing Brazil nuts in shell

These restrictions apply to certain compound foods containing above 20% of a product (or sum of products) listed in Annex 2 (where they are listed due to the risk of aflatoxin).

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Food and feed

• Groundnuts (peanuts), in shell
• Groundnuts (peanuts), shelled
• Peanut butter
• Groundnuts (peanuts), otherwise prepared or preserved
• Oilcake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of groundnut oil
• Groundnut flours and meals

These restrictions apply to certain compound foods containing above 20% of a product (or sum of products) listed in Annex 2 (where they are listed due to the risk of aflatoxin).

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins and pesticide residues

Cambodia (KH)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food – fresh or chilled herb

• Chinese celery (Apium graveolens)

Food – fresh, chilled or frozen vegetables

• Yardlong beans (Vigna unguiculata spp. sesquipedalis, vigna unguiculata spp. unguiculata)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

China (CN)

Retained Commission Decision 2011/884/EC

Products

• Rice in the husk (‘paddy’ or rough)
• Husked (brown) rice
• Semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed
• Broken rice
• Rice flour
• Rice groats and meal
• Rice pellets
• Flaked rice grains
• Rolled or flaked cereal grains (excluding grains of oats, wheat, rye, maize and barley, and flaked rice)
• Rice starch
• Preparations for infant use, put up for retail sale
• Uncooked pasta, not stuffed or otherwise prepared, containing eggs
• Uncooked pasta, not stuffed or otherwise prepared, not containing eggs
• Stuffed pasta, whether or not cooked or otherwise prepared
• Other pasta (other than uncooked pasta, not stuffed or otherwise prepared, and other than stuffed pasta, whether or not cooked or otherwise prepared)
• Prepared foods obtained by swelling or roasting cereals or cereal products, obtained from rice
• Preparations of the muesli-type based on unroasted cereal flakes
• Prepared foods obtained from unroasted cereal flakes or from mixtures of unroasted cereal flakes and roasted cereal flakes or swelled cereals, obtained from rice (excluding preparations of the muesli-type on the basis of unroasted cereal flakes)
• Rice, pre-cooked or otherwise prepared, not elsewhere specified or included (excluding flour, groats and meal, food preparations obtained by swelling or roasting or from unroasted cereal flakes or from mixtures of unroasted cereal flakes and roasted cereal flakes or swelled cereals)
• Rice paper
• Biscuits
• Extruded or expanded products, savoury or salted
• Extruded or expanded products, sweetened (e.g. Fruit tarts, currant bread, panettone, meringues, Christmas stollen, croissants, and other baker’s wares)
• Extruded or expanded products neither sweetened nor savouried nor salted (e.g. Pizzas, quiches and other unsweetened baker’s wares)
• Sauces and preparations, mixed condiments and mixed seasonings
• Bran, sharps and other residues, whether or not in the form of pellets, derived from the sifting, milling or other working of rice with a starch content not exceeding 35% by weight
• Bran, sharps and other residues, whether or not in the form of pellets, derived from the sifting, milling or other working of rice other than with a starch content not exceeding 35% by weight

Contaminant controlled

Genetically modified organisms

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

• Tea, whether or not flavoured

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food – crushed or ground

• Sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum)

Contaminant controlled

Salmonella

Food and feed

• Groundnuts (peanuts), in shell
• Groundnuts (peanuts), shelled
• Peanut butter
• Groundnuts (peanuts), otherwise prepared or preserved
• Oilcake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of groundnut oil
• Groundnut flours and meals

Contaminants controlled

Aflatoxins

Dominican Republic (DO)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food – fresh, chilled or frozen

• Sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum)
• Peppers of the Capsicum species (other than sweet)
• Yardlong beans (Vigna unguiculata spp. sesquipedalis, vigna unguiculata spp. unguiculata)
• Aubergines (Solanum melon­gena)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Egypt (EG)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food – fresh, chilled or frozen

• Sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum)
• Peppers of the Capsicum species (other than sweet)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food and feed

• Groundnuts (peanuts), in shell
• Groundnuts (peanuts), shelled
• Peanut butter
• Groundnuts (peanuts), otherwise prepared or preserved
• Oilcake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of groundnut oil
• Groundnut flours and meals

These restrictions apply to certain compound foods containing above 20% of a product (or sum of products) listed in Annex 2 (where they are listed due to the risk of aflatoxin).

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Ethiopia (ET)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

• Sesamum seeds

Contaminant controlled

Salmonella

Food – dried spices

• Pepper of the genus Piper; dried or crushed or ground or fruit of the genus Capsicum or of the genus Pimenta
• Ginger, saffron, turmeric (curcuma), thyme, bay leaves, curry and other spices

These restrictions may also apply to food products containing 20% or more of the above.

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Gambia (GM)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food and feed

• Groundnuts (peanuts), in shell
• Groundnuts (peanuts), shelled
• Peanut butter
• Groundnuts (peanuts), otherwise prepared or preserved
• Oilcake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of groundnut oil
• Groundnut flours and meals

These restrictions apply to certain compound foods containing above 20% of a product (or sum of products) listed in Annex 2 (where they are listed due to the risk of aflatoxin).

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Georgia (GE)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

• Hazelnuts, in shell
• Hazelnuts, shelled
• Flour, meal and powder of hazelnuts
• Hazelnuts, otherwise prepared or preserved

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Ghana (GH)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

• Palm oil

Contaminant controlled

Sudan dyes

Food and feed

• Groundnuts (peanuts), in shell
• Groundnuts (peanuts), shelled
• Peanut butter
• Groundnuts (peanuts), otherwise prepared or preserved
• Oilcake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of groundnut oil
• Groundnut flours and meals

These restrictions apply to certain compound foods containing above 20% of a product (or sum of products) listed in Annex 2 (where they are listed due to the risk of aflatoxin).

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Guinea (GN)

Retained Commission Decision 2007/82/EC

Food

• Fishery products

Contaminant controlled

Poor sanitary conditions

India (IN)

Retained Commission Decision 2010/381/EU

Food

• Aquaculture products

Contaminant controlled

Veterinary residues

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food – fresh, chilled, frozen or dried

• Curry leaves (Bergera/Murraya koenigii)

Food – fresh, chilled or frozen

• Okra

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

• Foodstuffs containing or consisting of betel leaves (Piper betle)

Contaminant controlled

Salmonella

Food

• Sesamum seeds

Contaminant controlled

Salmonella and pesticide residues

Food and feed

• Groundnuts (peanuts), in shell
• Groundnuts (peanuts), shelled
• Peanut butter
• Groundnuts (peanuts), otherwise prepared or preserved
• Oilcake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of groundnut oil
• Groundnut flours and meals

These restrictions apply to certain compound foods containing above 20% of a product (or sum of products) listed in Annex 2 (where they are listed due to the risk of aflatoxin).

Food – dried, roasted, crushed or ground

• Peppers of the Capsicum species (sweet or other than sweet)

These restrictions apply to certain compound foods containing above 20% of a product (or sum of products) listed in Annex 2 (where they are listed due to the risk of aflatoxin).

Food – dried spices

• Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)

These restrictions apply to certain compound foods containing above 20% of a product (or sum of products) listed in Annex 2 (where they are listed due to the risk of aflatoxin).

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Food and feed

• Guar gum

Contaminant controlled

Pentachlorophenol and dioxins

Food – fresh, chilled or frozen

• Peppers of the Capsicum species (other than sweet)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food

• Sesamum seeds

Contaminant controlled

Salmonella and pesticide residues

Iran (IR)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

• Pistachios, in shell
• Pistachios, shelled
• Mixtures of nuts or dried fruits containing pistachios
• Pistachio paste
• Pistachios, prepared or preserved, including mixtures
• Flour, meal and powder of pistachios

These restrictions apply to certain compound foods containing above 20% of a product (or sum of products) listed in Annex 2 (where they are listed due to the risk of aflatoxin).

Contaminants controlled

Aflatoxins

Kenya (KE)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food – fresh or chilled

• Beans (Vigna spp., Phaseolus spp.)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Kosovo (XK)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2020/1158

Product

• Certain mushrooms and fruit of the genus Vaccinium.

Contaminant controlled

Caesium-137 following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station.

Lebanon (LB)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food – prepared or preserved by vinegar or acetic acid

• Turnips (Brassica rapa spp. Rapa)

Food – prepared or preserved by brine or citric acid, not frozen

• Turnips (Brassica rapa spp. Rapa)

Contaminant controlled

Rhodamine B

Madagascar (MG)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food and feed

• Groundnuts (peanuts), in shell
• Groundnuts (peanuts), shelled
• Peanut butter
• Groundnuts (peanuts), otherwise prepared or preserved
• Groundnut flours and meals
• Oilcake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of groundnut oil

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Malaysia (MY)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food – fresh

• Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Moldova (MD)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2020/1158

Product

• Certain mushrooms and fruit of the genus Vaccinium.

Contaminant controlled

Caesium-137 following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station.

Montenegro (ME)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2020/1158

Product

• Certain mushrooms and fruit of the genus Vaccinium.

Contaminant controlled

Caesium-137 following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station.

Nigeria (NG)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

• Sesamum seeds

Contaminant controlled

Salmonella

Food

• Watermelon (Egusi, Citrullus spp.) seeds and derived products

These restrictions apply to certain compound foods containing above 20% of a product (or sum of products) listed in Annex 2 (where they are listed due to the risk of aflatoxin).

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Food

• Foodstuffs consisting of dried beans

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

North Macedonia (MK)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2020/1158

Product

• Certain mushrooms and fruit of the genus Vaccinium.

Contaminant controlled

Caesium-137 following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station.

Pakistan (PK)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

• Spices mixers

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Food – fresh, chilled or frozen

• Peppers of the Capsicum species (other than sweet)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Russia (RU)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2020/1158

Product

• Certain mushrooms and fruit of the genus Vaccinium.

Contaminant controlled

Caesium-137 following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station.

Senegal (SN)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food and feed

• Groundnuts (peanuts), in shell
• Groundnuts (peanuts), shelled
• Peanut butter
• Groundnuts (peanuts), otherwise prepared or preserved
• Groundnut flours and meals
• Oilcake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of groundnut oil

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Serbia  (RS)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2020/1158

Product

• Certain mushrooms and fruit of the genus Vaccinium.

Contaminant controlled

Caesium-137 following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station.

Sierra Leone (SL)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

• Watermelon (Egusi, Citrullus spp.) seeds and derived products

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Sri Lanka (LK)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food – dried, roasted, crushed or ground

• Peppers of the Capsicum species (sweet or other than sweet)

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Sudan (SD)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food and feed

• Groundnuts (peanuts), in shell
• Groundnuts (peanuts), shelled
• Peanut butter
• Groundnuts (peanuts), otherwise prepared or preserved
• Oilcake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of groundnut oil
• Groundnut flours and meals

These restrictions apply to certain compound foods containing above 20% of a product (or sum of products) listed in Annex 2 (where they are listed due to the risk of aflatoxin).

Contaminants controlled

Aflatoxins

Food

• Sesamum seeds

Contaminant controlled

Salmonella

Switzerland (CH)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2020/1158

Product

• Certain mushrooms and fruit of the genus Vaccinium.

Contaminant controlled

Caesium-137 following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station.

Syria (SY)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food – prepared or preserved by vinegar or acetic acid

• Turnips (Brassica rapa spp. Rapa)

Food – prepared or preserved by brine or citric acid, not frozen

• Turnips (Brassica rapa spp. Rapa)

Contaminant controlled

Rhodamine B

Thailand (TH)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food – fresh, chilled or frozen

• Peppers of the Capsicum species (other than sweet)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food

• Foodstuffs containing or consisting of betel leaves (Piper betle)

Contaminant controlled

Salmonella

Turkey (TR)

Retained Regulation (EU) 743/2013

Food

• Bivalve molluscs

Contaminant controlled

Poor sanitary conditions

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food – fresh or dried

• Mandarins (including tangerines and satsumas); clementines, wilkings and similar citrus hybrids
• Oranges

Food – fresh or chilled

• Pomegranates

Food – fresh, chilled or frozen

• Sweet Peppers (Capsicum annuum)
• Peppers of the Capsicum species (other than sweet)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food

• Unprocessed whole, ground, milled, cracked, chopped apricot kernels intended to be placed on the market for the final consumer

Contaminant controlled

Cyanide

Food

• Dried figs
• Mixtures of nuts or dried fruits containing figs
• Dried fig paste
• Dried figs, prepared or preserved, including mixtures
• Flour, meal or powder of dried figs
• Hazelnuts (Corylus sp.) in shell
• Hazelnuts (Corylus sp.) shelled
• Mixtures of nuts or dried fruits containing hazelnuts
• Hazelnut paste
• Hazelnuts, otherwise prepared or preserved, including mixtures
• Flour, meal and powder of hazelnuts
• Hazelnut oil
• Pistachios, in shell
• Pistachios, shelled
• Mixtures of nuts or dried fruits containing pistachios
• Pistachio paste
• Pistachios, prepared or preserved, including mixtures
• Flour, meal and powder of pistachios

These restrictions apply to certain compound foods containing above 20% of a product (or sum of products) listed in Annex 2 (where they are listed due to the risk of aflatoxin).

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Food

• Vine leaves

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food - fresh, chilled or dried

• Lemons (Citrus lemon, Citrus limonum)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Retained Regulation (EU) 2020/1158

Product

• Certain mushrooms and fruit of the genus Vaccinium.

Contaminant controlled

Caesium-137 following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station.

Uganda (UG)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food – fresh, chilled or frozen

• Peppers of the Capsicum species (other than sweet)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food

• Sesamum seeds

Contaminant controlled

Salmonella

Ukraine (UA)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2020/1158

Product

• Certain mushrooms and fruit of the genus Vaccinium.

Contaminant controlled

Caesium-137 following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station.

United States (US)

Retained Commission Decision 2006/199/EC

Food

• Fishery products

Contaminant controlled

Poor sanitary conditions

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food and feed

• Groundnuts (peanuts), in shell
• Groundnuts (peanuts), shelled
• Peanut butter
• Groundnuts (peanuts), otherwise prepared or preserved
• Groundnut flours and meals
• Oilcake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of groundnut oil

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Uzbekistan (UZ)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

• Dried apricots
• Apricots, otherwise prepared or preserved

Contaminant controlled

Sulphites

Vietnam (VN)

Retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food – fresh, chilled or frozen

• Okra
• Peppers of the Capsicum species (other than sweet)

Food – fresh or chilled herbs

• Coriander leaves
• Basil (holy, sweet)
• Mint
• Parsley

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food – fresh or chilled

• Pitahaya (dragon fruit) (ex 0810 90 20 10)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

All countries

Retained Commission Regulation (EC) 1333/2008

Product

• “Controlled jelly confectionery"
• “Controlled jelly mini-cups”
• Means any jelly mini-cups which are intended for human consumption and contain any of the following food additives
• E 400 alginic acid, E 401 sodium alginate, E 402 potassium alginate, E 403 ammonium alginate, E 404 calcium alginate, E 405 propane 1,2-diol alginate, E 406 agar, E 407 carrageenan, E 407a processed euchema seaweed, E 410 locust bean gum, E 412 guar gum, E 413 tragacanth, E 414 acacia gum, E 415 xanthan gum, E 417 tara gum and/or E 418 gellan gum.

Contaminant controlled

E425 Konjac