Holidaymakers are being slapped with stern warnings of hefty fines up to £5,000 for attempting to bring five specific items into the UK – even purchases from duty-free aren't exempt.

Strict new laws have been put in place by the government last month as a response to a grave disease outbreak that's gripping Europe.

Individuals jetting in from popular destinations such as Spain, France, Italy, and Greece must take extra care to avoid packing any banned goods. The rules currently enforce a rigid ban on products like sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats, or milk from entering British borders.

It is now a legal breach for anyone coming into Great Britain from EU nations to carry prohibited foodstuffs like sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats, or milk. This rule applies regardless of the state of packaging, even if items were snapped up at duty-free shops.

Border officials have been clear: those caught with these banned items will be forced to hand them over or watch as they're taken away and discarded. An official has stressed, "In serious cases, those found with these items run the risk of incurring fines of up to £5,000 in England."

Safeguarding moves have been initiated by the Government to combat foot and mouth disease (FMD), which is seeing escalating case numbers across Europe. An injunction is now in place, stopping travellers from importing meat from cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, or any dairy products from the EU into Great Britain, driven by a commitment to preserving British livestock health, ensuring farmer security, and fortifying the nation's food stability.

Officials have stated that Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) poses no risk to humans and there are currently no cases in the UK. However, it is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals such as wild boar, deer, llamas and alpacas.

The outbreak on the continent presents a significant risk to farm businesses and livestock.

FMD can cause significant economic losses due to production shortfalls in the affected animals, as well as loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat and dairy. In response to confirmed outbreaks of FMD in Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria earlier this year, the Government has already banned personal imports of cattle, sheep and other ruminants and pig meat as well as dairy products from these countries.

The new restrictions apply only to travellers arriving in Great Britain, and will not be imposed on personal imports arriving from Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man.

Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said at the launch: "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 prevent the spread of the disease and protect Britain's food security."

Dr Jorge Martin-Almagro, UK Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer for international and trade affairs, has issued a stark warning: "Following the detection of foot and mouth disease in EU countries resulting in a rising risk of introduction into Great Britain, we have extended restrictions on the personal imports of food products that pose a risk in FMD transmission."

He further emphasised the country's readiness to combat the threat, stating: "Robust contingency plans are already in place to manage the risk of this disease to protect farmers and Britain's food security. This biosecurity measure combined with all others we have implemented are critical to limit the risk of FMD incursion. I would urge livestock keepers to continue exercising the upmost 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."

Despite the tightened rules, there remains a limited set of exemptions. For instance, small quantities of infant milk, medical foods, and certain composite products such as chocolate, confectionery, bread, cakes, biscuits, and pasta are still permissible.

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