Importing salt or low sodium salt alternatives

General information

Imports of salt, or low sodium salt alternatives from third countries, must meet the same or equivalent food hygiene and compositional standards and procedures as food produced in GB. You do not normally need a health certificate to import salt.

Additives

For information on food additives used as anti-caking agents or any other food additives used in salt or low sodium salt alternatives, please contact our Food Additives team.

Labelling

You will find general information about food labelling on GOV.UK website.

For advice on the labelling of specific products, please go to GOV.UK to find your local Trading Standards Department or Environmental Health Department. 

Packaging

Food contact materials and articles, including those used for food packaging, are controlled by retained UK law in GB. This legislation is particularly thorough in its control of plastic materials and articles intended for food use. For information on the safety of packaging please contact the Food Contact Materials team.

Food hygiene

For general enquiries on food hygiene please contact the Food Hygiene Policy team.

Pesticides

You can find information on pesticides safety levels for imports on HSE website.

Contaminants

The Contaminants in Food (England) Regulations 2013 make provision for enactment and enforcement of retained UK law which set out regulatory limits for contaminants in food, such as nitrate, mycotoxins, metals, 3-MCPD, dioxins and PAHs. 

Read our business guidance on chemical safety.

Salt Association

You may also wish to visit The Salt Association regarding information on any UK standards for salt. 

Team contacts

Food Hygiene Policy Team

foodhygiene.policy@food.gov.uk