Border & Biosecurity

In recent months, Great Britain has updated import restrictions, particularly from EU countries, in response to outbreaks of animal diseases and associated risks. Below are the key areas of concern

This month sees two new outbreaks in the EU, PPR in Croatia and FMD in Cyprus. Both diseases are not new to Europe and current restrictions will be extended to the pair of countries. Great Britain has also updated import restrictions for personal imports from EU countries, in response to outbreaks of animal diseases and associated risks. No current restrictions have been eased to due outbreaks remaining at large. While no official guidance has been released regarding FMD in Cyprus, we expect this to be published imminently.  

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) – European Union (sheep & goats)  

Due to a PPR outbreak confirmed in 2025, GB continues to suspend imports from multiple EU countries. This is due to outbreaks of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) that were confirmed on: 

• 11 July 2024 for Greece 

• 19 July 2024 for Romania 

• 25 November 2024 for Bulgaria 

• 24 January 2025 for Hungary 

• 13 December 2025 for Croatia 

Imports of the following sheep and goat commodities are suspended 

• Live sheep and goats  

• Germplasm  

• Raw milk and milk products  

• Untreated wool and hair  
• Untreated skins and hides from sheep and goats.  

Personal imports from the European Union 

Individuals cannot bring certain products of ruminant and porcine origin from the European Union (EU), EEA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Switzerland into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for personal consumption. This is due to animal disease outbreaks across the EU. 

This applies to the fresh meat, meat products, milk, dairy products, colostrum, colostrum products and certain composite products and animal by-products of ruminant and porcine origin.   

Exemptions from these rules include: 

• infant milk 

• medical foods 
• certain low-risk composite products (including chocolate, confectionery, bread, cakes, biscuits, pasta and food supplements containing less than 20% animal products)   

African Swine Flu (ASF) - Spain  

Great Britain has immediately suspended the imports of raw and insufficiently treated pork products from Spain or containing Spanish-origin meat. The disease was detected in two wild boars in the region of Barcelona.   

 Spanish authorities have instructed their official veterinarians that, at the national level, no further export certificates can be signed for affected products destined for Great Britain.  

This means that the Official Veterinarians in Spain will not sign any export certificates of affected consignments until the ASF free area is recognised by the Spanish Government and European Commission.  

Meat products treated with less than treatment “C” (A minimum temperature of 80 °C, which must be reached throughout the meat and/or stomachs, bladders, and intestines during the processing of the meat product and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines.) are prohibited for import and will be rejected  

For the avoidance of doubt, only B and C treatment types are sufficient – D, D1, E and F are insufficient to mitigate the disease. The treatment type A is NOT sufficient, as this means the goods are entirely untreated   

Please don’t bring your consignment as it will be detained until further instructions are released relating to the outbreak regions and treatment.  

If your products are treated as “LOW risk,” then a heat treatment declaring minimum temperature will need to be provided.  

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) - European Union  

Great Britain continues to suspend the import of the following bovine commodities from Italy, France and Spain:  

• Live cattle  

• Germplasm (unless collected before certain cut-off dates)   

• Offal (except the diaphragm and masseter muscles).  

• Raw milk and raw dairy products, including colostrum   

• Certain animal by-products, including hides/skins unless processed in a way that mitigates LSD risk.  

This follows confirmed LSD outbreaks in Italy (21 June 2025), France (29 June 2025), and Spain (3 October 2025).   

  
The restrictions remain in force until revoked or amended. Importers must follow the published safeguard declarations and ensure all required processing and documentation. This ensures GB remains free from LSD while allowing trade in low-risk or treated products to continue. For further guidance on low-risk imports, read more  here .

As always, our bulletin highlights the key areas of current concern for GB imports. Other animal and animal-product imports may also be subject to restrictions. If you are unsure about the requirements for your consignments, please contact EORI (UK), where our specialist technical team can provide tailored advice and guidance.  

Please note that the information provided is accurate at the time of publication but may change over time.