Food of animal origin
Due to the risk of introducing animal diseases into the European Union (EU), there are strict procedures for the introduction of certain animal products into the EU. These procedures do not apply to the movement of animal products between the 28 Member States of the EU, animal products coming from Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino, and Switzerland or fishery products coming from the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Iceland.
General rules regarding import from other EU countries
(These rules also apply to private imports from Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland as well as import of fishery products from the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Iceland).
You may import food of animal origin from other EU countries without permission and without quantitative restrictions, provided that you import the food in your own baggage or receive it by parcel post.
The food must be for personal use.
The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration may impose restrictions on private imports following an outbreak of contagious animal diseases. The veterinary authorities in each EU country have the latest update on any outbreak of animal disease on their territory.
Please note due to outbreaks of contagious diseases
Due to current outbreaks or presence of various contagious animal diseases, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration strongly advises against private imports of food and other products derived from the species specified below for each listed country:
-
Belgium
Food and other products derived from pigs, incl. wild boars
(African Swine Fever)
-
Bulgaria
Food and other products derived from pigs, incl. wild boars
(African Swine Fever)
-
Czech republic
Food and other products derived from pigs, incl. wild boars
(African Swine Fever)
-
Estonia
Food and other products derived from pigs, incl. wild boars
(African Swine Fever)
-
Hungary
Food and other products derived from pigs, incl. wild boars
(African Swine Fever)
-
Italy
(Sardinia)
Food and other products derived from pigs, incl. wild boars
(African Swine Fever)
-
Latvia
Food and other products derived from pigs, incl. wild boars
(African Swine Fever, Classical Swine Fever)
-
Lithuania
Food and other products derived from pigs, incl. wild boars
(African Swine Fever)
-
Poland
Food and other products derived from pigs, incl. wild boars
(African Swine Fever)
-
Romania
Food and other products derived from pigs, incl. wild boars
(African Swine Fever)
General rules regarding private import of food of animal origin from countries outside EU (third countries)
(Please see the above for imports from Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland)
Rules regarding private import of food of animal origin from third countries
Schematic overview of the rules regarding private import of food of animal origin from third countries according to Regulation (EC) no. 206/2009
(For imports from the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Iceland, please see table below)
Food and other products of animal origin |
Allowed for private import |
Meat (except frogs' legs and casings), milk and products of meat or milk | Import not allowed |
|
Powdered infant milk, infant food, and special foods required for medical reasons¹. | Max 2 kg per person |
Eviscerated fresh or prepared fish and fishery products. | Max 20 kg per person or 1 fish regardless of weight. |
Live clams/oysters, eggs, egg products, honey, snails or frogs' legs | Max 2 kg per person |
Dead animals or parts of dead animals covered by CN code 0511² intended for feeding of pets | Import not allowed |
Processed feed for dogs, cats and ferrets (e.g. dog chew, canned feed and mixes containing meat or milk) | Import not allowed |
Special feed for dogs, cats and ferrets if required for medical reasons¹. | Max 2 kg per person (NOT per pet) |
¹) Provided that: 1) the products are packaged proprietary brand products intended for direct sale to the consumer; 2) the products do not require refrigeration before consumption, and the packaging is unbroken unless in current use.
²) See international customs code (ec.europa.eu)
PLEASE NOTE In case of outbreaks of contagious animal diseases in a third country, import restrictions on animal products may be imposed. In such cases private imports are not allowed either. Current import restrictions may be found in the order on import of food etc. under specific restrictions (“Bekendtgørelse om indførsel af fødevarer m.v. med særlige restriktioner”).
See current import restrictions regarding private import of animal products.
Special rules for the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Iceland
Food and other products of animal origin |
Allowed for private import |
Meat (except frogs' legs and casings), milk, products of meat or milk, and
dead animals or parts of dead animals covered by CN code 0511² intended for pet feed and processed feed for dogs, cats and ferrets (e.g. dog chew, canned feed and mixes containing meat or milk) | Max 10 kg per person. |
|
Powdered infant milk, infant food and special foods
required for medical reasons¹, and
special feed for dogs, cats and ferrets if required for medical reasons². | Max 10 kg per person |
Eviscerated fresh or prepared fish and fishery products | No quantitative restrictions |
|
Live clams/oysters, eggs, egg products, honey, snails or frogs' legs | Max 10 kg per person. |
|
|
|
¹) This private import is conditioned on: 1) the products are packaged proprietary brand products intended for direct sale to the consumer; 2) the products do not require refrigeration before consumption, and the packaging is unbroken unless in current use.
²) International customs code (
please click here)
Food of non-animal origin
The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has no restrictions on private import of food of non-animal origin, if the food is for private use. The Danish Agricultural Agency, however, may have restrictions, please see The Danish Agricultural Agency's website
Certain foodstuffs of non-animal origin for commercial import are under restrictions or are prohibited: More information on foodstuffs of non-animal origin for commercial import
Information to travellers (English)
Poster on private imports
