Restrictions on imports of food of animal origin by private persons
There are restrictions on bringing in pork or wild boar meat or products made of them, if the products are originating from countries where African swine fever (ASF) has been detected. In European Union, the disease occurs in Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, Slovakia, Germany, Czech Republik, Greece, and Croatia, for instance.
The situation of the disease may change rapidly.
African swine fever occurs outside European Union in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, China, and several African countries, for instance.
The restrictions of private import are presented hear and shortly in a leaflet. The restrictions apply also to hunted meat!
Video: what travellers need to know about African swine fever (ASF) (subtitles in English & Russian)
Souvenirs of food within EU
Private persons may bring food of animal origin from within the European Union internal market to Finland for their own personal use or for presents. However, bringing of food of animal origin may be restricted based on animal diseases occurring in the country of origin. More detailed information on the restrictions on page: private import of meat and meat products in EU. The restrictions of import are also presented shortly in a leaflet and a guideline of personal import, see the right column of the page.
It is permitted to bring in such an amount of food of animal origin or products containing food that can be considered to be used by a private person in his/her private household. Information on the limitations on bringing in food of non-animal origin for personal consumption or as presents is available at www.tulli.fi, where you will also find the limit for tax free imports of these.
Game
Travellers may bring with them from other EU countries game that they have hunted themselves unless the import is restricted due to the local conditions in animal diseases. The specific restrictions and areas where animal diseases occur can be found in EU safe guard measures. Hunted wild boar may not be imported from restriction zones I, II and III for African swine fever. Restriction zones for ASF can be viewed in the on line map search (see right edge of page). In addition, the limit for tax-free import has to be adhered to, and the CITES regulations and decisions on protection have to be observed.
Commercial activity
If food of animal origin is imported from the internal market for commercial purposes (for distribution or sale) to Finland, it is considered as activity of a food business operator and is covered by the official food control by the municipalities. This applies also to all non-commercial distribution of food products. More information at For intra EU-trade operators.
Souvenirs of food of animal origin from non-EU countries
Foods of animal origin may not be freely imported to Finland from outside the EU. Private import of meat, meat products, milk and dairy products is prohibited. There are also limitations on bringing other foods of animal origin. Detailed information on the restrictions on private import from outside EU.