Bringing food items into the UK (from Chile)

Bringing food items into the UK (from Chile) - Person Holding A Fruit Shaped Red Candle

I called the British embassy in Santiago in Chile, but they didn't know very much about that. Since I'll be visiting my Hungarian friend living in London, I want to take some food for her to taste Chilean flavours.

The foods I'll be taking are sealed (bought at the supermarket) and they have the necessary approval from the health authority in Chile. Do I have to declare them at Fiumicino airport Rome (I have to take the connecting flight there) or London City Airport? I'll be carrying them in my big suitcase.

The items are: chocolate, a special type of cake called chilenitos (https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/comparacion/images/1875_264860ga.jpg), cinnamon, and chancaca (http://zancada.com/wp-content/imagenes/Chancaca-Deliciosa-Light-225gzancada.jpg).



Best Answer

You can read the UK government's rules on bringing in food items here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/personal-food-plant-and-animal-product-imports

The important bit looks like this:

From non-EU countries the following items are banned:

  • all meat and meat products
  • all milk and dairy products
  • potatoes

From non-EU countries the following items are restricted:

  • fruit and vegetables - no more than 2kg total weight combined per person travelling bivalves (live), egg products, eggs and honey
  • fish, bivalves (dead) and fish/fishery products - no more than 20kg total weight (fish must be gutted if fresh, or processed, ie cooked, cured, dried or smoked) 2kg total weight combined per person - certain fruits and vegetables

So most of what you mention should be all right, although if they contain considerable amounts of fresh dairy it could be an issue. Note that a later part of the page mentions exceptions to the above:

*Confectionery, chocolate or cakes (including Christmas cake, Simnel cake or cakes containing nuts) are permitted from any country as long as they are for your personal consumption and do not contain fresh cream or high levels of dairy products. Confectionery that contain high levels of dairy products include Burfi, Gulab Jaman, Halwah or Halva, Ras Malai, RasGullah, Ladoos, and Chum Chum. Information on importing nuts can be found on the Trade information: nuts (Food Standards Agency) (PDF, 164KB, 2 pages) .

As for declaring - you'll probably have to go through customs wherever you collect your bags first - which will be the UK if you have a ticket right through, or Italy if you have two separate tickets (probably).

Unlike the US, there is no declaration necessary - either you are travelling within the rules, in which case there is no need to declare, or you are bringing things which are not allowed, whether you declare them or not. "Declaring" to EU customs is either:a) for things you need to pay tax (typically VAT) on, or b) for things you aren't sure about and would rather a customs offical look at.




Pictures about "Bringing food items into the UK (from Chile)"

Bringing food items into the UK (from Chile) - Clear Glass Jar With Green Lid
Bringing food items into the UK (from Chile) - White and Red Plastic Cups
Bringing food items into the UK (from Chile) - White Cheese on Brown Wooden Chopping Board



What food items are prohibited to bring into UK?

You cannot bring in:
  • meat or meat products.
  • milk or milk-based products, except powdered infant milk, infant food or special food (including pet food) needed for medical reasons.


Can you bring food into UK from abroad?

The rules are simple: Border Force UK, the Government's law enforcement agency, states that you are free to bring back any meat, dairy or other animal products you wish, including shellfish and honey, from any country within the European Union to the UK. You can also bring back fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

Do I have to declare food at customs UK?

You must tell customs about ('declare') goods: if you go over your personal allowances for Great Britain for Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) or for Northern Ireland. that are banned or restricted. that you plan to sell or use in a business.

What food does the UK import from Chile?

Other UK Food and Drink Import FactsCountryCategoryItemCayman IslandsBaked GoodsBreadChileFruit and VegetablesGrapesChinaMeatFish (frozen)ColombiaFruit and VegetablesBananas and plantains118 more rows•Sep 3, 2018




Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: RODNAE Productions, Polina Tankilevitch, Polina Tankilevitch, Cup of Couple