Foodstuffs with GB import restrictions

England and Wales specific

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.

When products are exported from the country of origin into another country before coming to Great Britain, this would be considered as 'triangular trade'. In this instance, the country of origin has not changed and the controls continue to apply.

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

The relevant legislation mentioned is listed below:

Albania (AL)

Assimilated Commission Decision 2007/642/EC

Food

Fishery products

Contaminant controlled

Histamines

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

Foodstuffs containing or consisting of betel leaves (Piper betle)

Contaminant controlled

Salmonella

Belarus (BY)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food – neither crushed nor ground

Black pepper (Piper)

Contaminant controlled

Salmonella

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

Cambodia (KH)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated Decision 2002/994/EC

Food

All products of animal origin except
fishery products, except:
- those obtained by aquaculture,
- peeled and/or processed shrimps,
- crayfish of the species Procambrus clarkii caught in natural fresh waters by fishing operations;
gelatine
petfood
substances to be used as food additives
substances to be used as or in the food supplements
Chondroitin sulphate and glucosamine considered as feed material
L-cysteine and L-cystine considered as feed additives
Farmed fishery products,
peeled and/or processed shrimps,
crayfish of the species Procambrus clarkii
casings
rabbit meat
honey
royal jelly
poultrymeat products
Eggs and egg products
propolis and bee pollen

Contaminant controlled

Antibiotics and antimicrobials

Assimilated 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

Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

Enoki Mushrooms

Contaminant controlled

Listeria

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

Colombia (CO)

Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

Grandilla (Passiflora ligularis) and passion fruit (Passiflora edulis)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Dominican Republic (DO)

Assimilated 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

Ecuador (EC)

Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food – fresh or dried

Bananas

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Egypt (EG)

Assimilated 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

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

Food – fresh or dried

Oranges

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food

Vine leaves

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Ethiopia (ET)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated Commission Decision 2007/82/EC

Food

Fishery products

Contaminant controlled

Poor sanitary conditions

Indonesia (ID)

Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

India (IN)

Assimilated Commission Decision 2010/381/EU

Food

Aquaculture products

Contaminant controlled

Veterinary residues

Food – dried spices

Cinnamon and cinnamon-tree flowers

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food – dried spices

Cloves (whole fruit, cloves and stems)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food – fresh, chilled or frozen

Drumsticks (Moringa oleifera)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food – dried spices

Ginger, saffron, turmeric (Curcuma), thyme, bay leaves, curry and other spices

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food – dried spices

Nutmeg, mace and cardamoms

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food

Rice

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food – dried spices

Seeds of anise, badian, fennel, coriander, cumin or caraway, juniper berries

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food – fresh, chilled, frozen or dried

Curry leaves (Bergera/Murraya koenigii)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food – fresh, chilled or frozen

Okra

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

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 – fresh, chilled or frozen

Peppers of the genus Capsicum (sweet or other than sweet)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food

Sesamum seeds

Contaminant controlled

Salmonella and pesticide residues

Iran (IR)

Assimilated 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

Food

Melon Seeds

Contaminants controlled

Aflatoxins

Kenya (KE)

Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food – fresh or chilled

Beans (Vigna spp., Phaseolus spp.)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food – fresh, chilled or frozen

Peppers of the genus Capsicum (other than sweet)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Kosovo (XK)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated 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

Food

Cow peas (Vigna unguiculata subspp.)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Malaysia (MY)

Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food – fresh

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Moldova (MD)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

Spices mixes

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

Food – fresh, chilled or frozen

Peppers of the Capsicum species (other than sweet)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Food

Rice

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

Russia (RU)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

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

Contaminant controlled

Aflatoxins

South Korea (KR)

Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

Enoki mushrooms

Contaminant controlled

Listeria

Sri Lanka (LK)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated 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

Food

Sesamum seeds

Contaminant controlled

Salmonella

Food

Tahini and halva from Sesamum seeds

Contaminant controlled

Salmonella

Thailand (TH)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated Regulation (EU) 743/2013

Food

Bivalve molluscs

Contaminant controlled

Poor sanitary conditions

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
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

Product

Certain mushrooms and fruit of the genus Vaccinium.

Contaminant controlled

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

Uganda (UG)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated 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)

Assimilated Commission Decision 2006/199/EC

Food

Fishery products

Contaminant controlled

Poor sanitary conditions

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)

Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2019/1793

Food

Dried apricots
Apricots, otherwise prepared or preserved

Contaminant controlled

Sulphites

Vietnam (VN)

Assimilated 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)

Contaminant controlled

Pesticide residues

All countries

Assimilated 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

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