Foodstuffs with GB import restrictions
A list of foodstuffs with current 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
Revision log
Published: 5 May 2021
Last updated: 25 January 2023