Government presents to ABTA members on food import restrictions for their customers
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dhewitt@abta.co.uk Wed, 07/09/2025 - 13:19
ABTA has arranged for members to hear directly from Government about import restrictions affecting their customers when returning to the UK.
A representative from the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) gave an online presentation to ABTA members on Tuesday 8 July about recently introduced restrictions on meat and dairy products for travellers returning from the EU. The restrictions have been in place since April this year due to foot and mouth outbreaks on the continent and ABTA has been supporting DEFRA in its efforts to raise public awareness of the restrictions.
Travellers are no longer be able to bring cattle, sheep, goat, and pig meat, as well as dairy products, from EU countries into Great Britain for personal use. This joins an earlier ban on these products from other parts of the world.
This includes bringing items like sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats, or milk into Great Britain – regardless of whether it is packed or packaged or whether it has been bought at duty free.
DEFRA says that whilst FMD poses no risk to humans and there are no cases in the UK, the outbreak on the continent presents a significant risk to farm businesses and livestock.
Graeme Buck, ABTA’s Director of Communications, says:
“Ensuring that members are fully aware of changes to policy is extremely important and we regularly meet with Government departments for briefings. These also give us the opportunity to share members’ views and concerns. Today’s DEFRA video presentation was a result of one such meeting and gave an invaluable insight into the reasons behind the restrictions on customers bringing in meat and dairy products from the EU.
Not only will this help to safeguard the British farming community but prevent members of the public from having these items taken from them on arrival back to the UK.
“This DEFRA briefing was part of our series of monthly conference calls for ABTA members. Free to attend, they focus on current topics affecting the industry and how members can get the most from their membership.”
ABTA members who would like to watch DEFRA’s advice can do so by visiting ABTA’s Member Zone and accessing the recording of its July member video conference call. DEFRA’s full guidance on food import restrictions can be found here.
Notes to editors
ABTA is a trade association for UK travel agents, tour operators and the wider travel industry. We’re the largest travel trade body, with over 4,300 travel brands in membership who have a combined annual UK turnover of over £40 billion. We work closely with our members to help raise and maintain standards and build a more sustainable travel industry, and provide travellers with advice, guidance and support.
Our members sign up to a code of conduct and commit to agreed service standards and fair trading. When you need clear travel information, and accurate and impartial advice relating to your trip, we’re here for you. When you book with an ABTA member, reliable advice comes as standard. This means that booking with our members brings peace of mind.
All this together means we help you travel with confidence. www.abta.com
Continue reading...
Full Page image
dhewitt@abta.co.uk Wed, 07/09/2025 - 13:19
ABTA has arranged for members to hear directly from Government about import restrictions affecting their customers when returning to the UK.
A representative from the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) gave an online presentation to ABTA members on Tuesday 8 July about recently introduced restrictions on meat and dairy products for travellers returning from the EU. The restrictions have been in place since April this year due to foot and mouth outbreaks on the continent and ABTA has been supporting DEFRA in its efforts to raise public awareness of the restrictions.
Travellers are no longer be able to bring cattle, sheep, goat, and pig meat, as well as dairy products, from EU countries into Great Britain for personal use. This joins an earlier ban on these products from other parts of the world.
This includes bringing items like sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats, or milk into Great Britain – regardless of whether it is packed or packaged or whether it has been bought at duty free.
DEFRA says that whilst FMD poses no risk to humans and there are no cases in the UK, the outbreak on the continent presents a significant risk to farm businesses and livestock.
Graeme Buck, ABTA’s Director of Communications, says:
“Ensuring that members are fully aware of changes to policy is extremely important and we regularly meet with Government departments for briefings. These also give us the opportunity to share members’ views and concerns. Today’s DEFRA video presentation was a result of one such meeting and gave an invaluable insight into the reasons behind the restrictions on customers bringing in meat and dairy products from the EU.
Not only will this help to safeguard the British farming community but prevent members of the public from having these items taken from them on arrival back to the UK.
“This DEFRA briefing was part of our series of monthly conference calls for ABTA members. Free to attend, they focus on current topics affecting the industry and how members can get the most from their membership.”
ABTA members who would like to watch DEFRA’s advice can do so by visiting ABTA’s Member Zone and accessing the recording of its July member video conference call. DEFRA’s full guidance on food import restrictions can be found here.
Notes to editors
ABTA is a trade association for UK travel agents, tour operators and the wider travel industry. We’re the largest travel trade body, with over 4,300 travel brands in membership who have a combined annual UK turnover of over £40 billion. We work closely with our members to help raise and maintain standards and build a more sustainable travel industry, and provide travellers with advice, guidance and support.
Our members sign up to a code of conduct and commit to agreed service standards and fair trading. When you need clear travel information, and accurate and impartial advice relating to your trip, we’re here for you. When you book with an ABTA member, reliable advice comes as standard. This means that booking with our members brings peace of mind.
All this together means we help you travel with confidence. www.abta.com
Continue reading...
