The private import of all meat products is prohibited.
Private individuals are not allowed to import foodstuffs of animal origin from outside the European Union because of the risk of spreading of dangerous animal diseases.
Examples of foodstuffs of animal origin include meat and dairy products and pet feedingstuffs of animal origin. The import of food of animal origin may give rise to a risk of animal diseases spreading to live animals. Such easily spreading animal diseases include, e.g., African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease. Travellers play an important role in keeping animal diseases outside of the EU area. The regulations apply to any items carried by the traveller as well as to those sent and ordered by post. Any meat brought by hunters from a hunting trip is also private import.
Private import is prohibited under Commission Regulation 206/2009. Any and all import of food must always comply with the regulations. The regulations were issued to prevent the spreading of animal diseases, and they apply to private and commercial import alike. The European Commission may also impose safeguard decisions that restrict the imports by country or region. Safeguard decisions are issued because of outbreaks of disease in the country or region concerned.
African swine fever
African swine fever has occurred and continues to occur in Finland's neighbouring areas. African swine fever spreads with raw and insufficiently heated meat products. The disease is not contagious to humans, but when transmitted to pigs, the disease is lethal and can cause, among other things, significant losses for the Finnish pork industry and exports.
Foot-and-mouth disease
Foot-and-mouth disease can spread to the EU area with meat and dairy products carried by travellers. Travellers should note that these items may not be brought with them to the EU area. The incidence of foot-and-mouth disease is exceptionally high in China and South Korea.
The private import of dairy products is, as a rule, prohibited. There are a few exceptions, and they can be found under the link "exceptions for private import"
Thank you for helping us to control animal diseases!
Thank you for not importing products of animal origin into the European Union!