5
Accepted in Part
Compel travel operators and scale up Defra communications including a digital import tool.
Recommendation
Travel operators should be legally compelled to inform travellers of the rules for personal imports from the EU into GB. Defra must immediately scale up its communications to the public about personal import rules and reach a much broader audience. Communications must explain both the rules and their purpose, such as the specific threats of foot and mouth disease and African swine fever. Defra should also produce a digital tool for travellers to identify what they can bring into the country, like those provided by the United States and Australia. (Recommendation, Paragraph 28)
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating existing law already requires operators to inform travellers, and Defra continues to communicate import rules, including targeted campaigns and reminders. However, it rejects developing a digital tool for travellers, deeming it not cost-effective, and has no current plans to legislate further in this area.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
GB Law requires international passenger transport operators to draw the attention of their customers to the rules for personal imports contained within the Regulation. For personal imports from outside the EU these rules are well-established and straightforward i.e. no meat and no dairy products. The Government has deferred the application of these rules for personal imports from the EU as part of the post-EU Exit transitional arrangements (until 31 January 2027). In the meantime, Defra has used safeguard powers to ban personal imports of certain products from the EU into England in response to specific animal disease threats. Equivalent measures have been implemented by Devolved Governments in Scotland and Wales. On 12 April 2025, Defra extended existing bans on personal imports of meat and dairy products from the EU to cover all ruminant and pig meat and dairy products from the EU single market area. To communicate this change, the Government targeted a broad audience through effective partnership communications with the travel sector. Defra’s press notice and digital content explained why travellers should not bring these products into the country. ABTA, a trade association for UK travel agents, tour operators and the wider travel industry, circulated details of the ban to its members, shared Defra digital content and issued a news release. As a result, some travel operators, for example Eurotunnel and Eurostar, now email travellers ahead of travel informing them of the ban. Some, such as Eurotunnel, Eurostar and P&O Ferries, have information on their websites informing travellers about the ban. Others, such as easyJet, have information on their websites advising travellers to check destination countries’ rules for importing food. Defra conducted focus groups to test the communication assets (e.g. posters) it developed and shared with industry partners. The focus groups did not identify the need for a digital tool for travellers, and the Government is not convinced that it would offer value for money. Defra’s quarterly attitude tracker results in August 2025 indicated that over 90% of those who had travelled to the EU since April 2025 were aware of the rules. The Government, therefore, partially agrees with this recommendation. Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency will continue to communicate the rules and the reasons for them. This includes issuing reminder communications around key travel periods - before half term and at the start of the European Christmas market season. To expand reach still further, Defra is planning specific communications to target migrant farm workers. The SPS Agreement will have implications for future policy on goods from the EU. In view of the above, the Government has no current plans to legislate in this space or to develop a digital tool for travellers.
Source
Inquiry
Animal and plant health
Report
3rd report - Biosecurity at the border: Britain's illegal meat crisis
08 Sep 2025
HC 1296
Timeline
Recommendation age
0.7 yr
Report published
08 Sep 2025