How much Meat and fish can I bring into United Kingdom?
Restricted
You can bring Meat and fish into United Kingdom only within the stated limits.
What you need to know
- 20 kilogram (44.09 lb)
- Channels: Carried with the traveler
Important
This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.
Official sources
- Bringing food into Great Britain: Meat, dairy, fish and animal products Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (GOV.UK)
Questions about Meat and fish in United Kingdom
- How much meat and fish can I bring into United Kingdom?
- United Kingdom allows 20 kilograms of meat and fish per traveller. Above that the goods are treated as an import and duty becomes payable. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
- Do I have to declare meat and fish at United Kingdom customs?
- Only above the allowance. Up to 20 kilograms of meat and fish there is nothing to declare; beyond it you take the goods through the red channel and pay the duty.
- What happens if I do not declare meat and fish in United Kingdom?
- Under Travellers' Allowances Order 1994, if you declare the excess yourself: a flat-rate charge is applied to the excess. The normal duty becomes payable on the excess. Under Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, section 167, if it is treated as smuggling: it is prosecuted as a criminal offence; the goods are confiscated.
- Do duty-free purchases count toward the United Kingdom allowance for meat and fish?
- Yes. What you buy in an arrival duty-free shop comes out of the same allowance, so the shop does not add to what you may already be carrying.
- Can I post or ship meat and fish to United Kingdom instead of carrying it?
- Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead. Baggage sent before or after you travels under the same allowance.
- Can I take meat and fish out of United Kingdom?
- United Kingdom publishes no separate rule for taking meat and fish out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
- Does the United Kingdom limit for meat and fish apply per person or per family?
- Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.
- Where does this rule come from?
- HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) / Border Force states it in Bringing food into Great Britain: Meat, dairy, fish and animal products. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “You can bring in up to 20kg per person in total of fish, including: fresh fish - must be gutted fish products processed fish - must be dried, cooked, cured or smoked lobsters prawns”
- How does United Kingdom compare with other countries on meat and fish?
- Of the 20 countries covered here, 3 prohibit meat and fish, 15 limit it and 2 let it through. United Kingdom is among the ones that set a limit.
Source: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) / Border Force — Bringing food into Great Britain: Meat, dairy, fish and animal products · verified 2026-09-19
Source: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) / Border Force — Bringing food into Great Britain: Meat, dairy, fish and animal products · verified 2026-09-19
Source: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) / Border Force — The Travellers' Allowances Order 1994 · verified 2026-09-20
Source: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) / Border Force — The Travellers' Allowances Order 1994 · verified 2026-09-20
Source: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) / Border Force — The Travellers' Allowances Order 1994 · verified 2026-09-20
Source: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) / Border Force — Bringing food into Great Britain: Meat, dairy, fish and animal products · verified 2026-09-19
Source: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) / Border Force — Bringing food into Great Britain: Meat, dairy, fish and animal products · verified 2026-09-19