Animals + Humans = One health

Dangerous pathogens that cause animal diseases, such as foot and mouth disease and classical swine fever can reside in meat and dairy products. The 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak in the UK was most likely caused by illegal imports of contaminated animal products which were then fed to pigs, costing the country around €12.5 billion!

Bringing personal consignments of meat and dairy products into the EU – whether in a traveller’s luggage or sent by post to a private individual – also risk introducing such pathogens into the EU. This is why, in general, travellers cannot bring with them any meat or dairy products into the EU.

Similarly in some non-EU countries, diseases like rabies may be present among domestic pets. So if a dog or cat, for example, is imported from such a country – without following the correct procedures and providing the right documents – there is a risk that such diseases may be imported into the EU. The disease once symptoms appear in animals or humans is fatal!

It is for these reasons that the EU imposes strict rules on what and how travellers can bring in regarding products of animal origin, and domestic animals.

Who is responsible?

The responsibility for biosecurity at borders is shared between the relevant authorities in Member States and travellers themselves. It is up to national authorities to implement the EU rules on personal consignments of products of animal origin and pets. Information should be effectively communicated to travellers so that they can follow the rules implemented by Member States. In addition, all available measures should be fully utilised to prevent and detect illegal personal consignments of meat and dairy products in passenger luggage, transport or even by post.