Foods of animal origin may carry diseases that can be passed to humans and animals. For this reason, special regulations apply to the importing of foods by private travellers.
The following information applies to private travel with goods of animal origin, i.e. travel with foods for personal use only. The regulations apply to foods of animal origin, including game and fish. For specific questions on commercial imports of foods and any species conservation regulations, please consult the import filter.
Entry from the EU, Northern Ireland, Norway and Iceland
Foods of animal origin may be imported for personal use, as is the case for all foods. Customs regulations apply.
However, an outbreak of an animal disease in the above-mentioned countries could occur at any time. In such an event, an import ban is a possibility. Please inquire about the current situation before travelling.
Special regulations for game and fish
Game and fish must not come from areas subject to restrictions or surveillance imposed on animal health grounds.
Entry from third countries
Imports prohibited:
- products containing meat, meat products, edible offal, milk or dairy products, with the exception of the foodstuffs listed below;
- animal fats and oils, with the exception of the foodstuffs listed below.
Imports permitted without restrictions:
- Meat extracts and meat concentrates;
- Soup stocks and flavourings packaged for the final consumer.
Imports permitted without restrictions, provided products contain no meat, meat products or edible offal:
- Bread, cakes, biscuits and other baked products;
- Chocolate and confectionery (including sweets);
- Pasta;
- Olives stuffed with fish;
- Food supplements packaged for the final consumer which contain processed animal products. Food supplements are foodstuffs whose purpose is to supplement the normal diet. They comprise concentrates of vitamins, minerals or similar substances with a physiological effect and must be provided in dose form to be taken in small measured quantities (capsules, tablets, powder sachet etc.).
Imports permitted without restrictions, provided products contain no meat, meat products, edible offal, milk or dairy products:
- Other composite foodstuffs where less than half of the foodstuff consists of egg products or fishery products.
Imports permitted subject to maximum quantities per person:
Greenland and the Faroe Islands:
- Animal products (apart from fish and fishery products) and animal by-products which are intended for feeding to pets: maximum 10 kg;
- Fresh, gutted fish and fishery products*: no maximum quantities;
- Caviar (without CITES import permit and chargeable CITES import inspection): a maximum of 125 g per person (non-combinable).
Other third countries
- Fresh, gutted fish and fishery products*: maximum 20 kg or a whole fish with no weight limit;
- Caviar (without CITES import permit and chargeable CITES import inspection): a maximum of 125 g per person (non-combinable);
- Honey, eggs, snails (not live), frog’s legs, gelatine, collagen, insects (not live): maximum 2 kg;
- Baby milk powder, baby food, and special medical food and feed for humans and animals, provided they can be kept at room temperature, are packaged branded products for direct sale to the final consumer and the packs have not been opened (except in use): maximum 2 kg.
* Fishery products: All edible forms and parts of aquatic animals (including fish oil). Exceptions are live bivalve molluscs, live echinoderms, live tunicates, live marine gastropods, mammals, reptiles and frogs.
Consignments to private individuals by letter or parcel post
For consignments containing foodstuffs of animal origin that are sent to private individuals by letter or parcel post, the same rules apply by analogy as for consignments imported by private travellers. Exception: Caviar is subject to both permit and control in terms of species protection and the corresponding CITES documents must be available.
The abovementioned facilitations apply only to items addressed to private households. Please ensure that products of non-animal origin are clearly marked as such.
In the customs declaration, the person required to register the goods must give the general permit number. When this number is given, it confirms that the consignment complies with the relevant conditions.
General permit number: 2630/03
An outbreak of an animal disease, which could happen at any time, would lead to a total ban on exports of foods from the country concerned. Please inquire about the current situation before travelling.
Last modification 18.07.2023
