Many Brits will be heading off to the likes of Spain, France, Italy and Greece this summer.
But those who are planning to travel to Europe have been warned against trying to take five specific items through customs – or risk facing penalties of up for £5,000.
Anyone carrying sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats or milk into the UK will be detained at the border.
And the rule even applies to these items if they’re still in their packaging or purchased in duty-free shops at the airport.
According to authorities, anyone discovered with any of these products will be required to either hand them over at the border or have them confiscated and destroyed.
They add: ‘In serious cases, those found with these items run the risk of incurring fines of up to £5,000 in England.’
The government introduced these regulations earlier this year, to combat an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease following an increasing number of cases throughout Europe.
Foot-and-mouth is a highly contagious viral disease which affects animals such as cattle, sheep and pigs.
Anyone carrying sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats or milk into the UK will be detained at the border
The rule even applies to these items if they’re still in their packaging or purchased at the airport
It can be detrimental to farming and agriculture, but has not broken out in the United Kingdom since 2007.
Brits must refrain from bringing dairy products from certain animals back to the country if they are returning from the EU, EFTA States, the Faroe Islands or Greenland.
Speaking after the ban which followed initial restrictions put in place in January, farming minister Daniel Zeichner told The Times: ‘This government will do whatever it takes to protect British farmers from foot-and-mouth.
‘That is why we are further strengthening protections by introducing restrictions on personal meat and dairy imports to prevents the spread of the disease and protect Britain’s food security.’
Jose Martin-Almagro, the UK’s deputy chief veterinary officer for international and trade affairs, urged livestock keepers to ‘continue exercising the utmost vigilance for signs of disease, ensure scrupulous biosecurity is maintained and to report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.’
And president of the National Farmers’ Union, Tom Bradshaw, called the outbreak in Europe ‘very worrying’.
He too urged the Government to impose ‘stricter border controls’ and ensure passengers are aware of the ban.
