Guidance
Restricted and controlled goods for merchandise in baggage
Find out about the goods that are restricted and controlled when importing or exporting merchandise in your baggage.
If you are travelling with commercial goods in your baggage that are subject to restriction or are controlled, you must electronically submit a full customs declaration using a customs agent or intermediary if you do not have the specialist software to make the declaration yourself.
This guidance is under review and not being updated. You should check if your goods are restricted or controlled in the UK Integrated Online Tariff.
This list is not exhaustive and it is a list of things that HMRC considers to be subject to a restriction (it will be for the UK courts to determine what the legislation means).
| Type of good | Description |
|---|---|
| Aflatoxin | The import of feed and food referred to in Article 1(1) and (2) of EC Regulation 884/2014. |
| Agricultural machinery (used) | Agricultural machinery (used) unless cleaned so as to remove all soil and other debris is prohibited.* |
| Ammonium nitrate | The import of relevant ammonium nitrate material into the UK is prohibited except under licence issued by the Health and Safety Executive or under a Detonation Resistance Test Certificate.* Relevant ammonium nitrate material is defined in the Ammonium Nitrate Materials (High Nitrogen Content) Safety Regulations 2003 as: ammonium nitrate in solid form, where its nitrogen content is more than 28% of its weight. Material in solid form, comprising a mixture of components, one of which is ammonium nitrate, in circumstances where the nitrogen content derived from ammonium nitrate is more than 28% of the material by weight, and where the material has a total weight of 500kg or more. |
| Animal pathogens | The Importation of Animal Pathogens Order 1980 prohibits the import of animal pathogens without a licence and The Specified Animal Pathogens Order 2008 lists the animal pathogens and sets out the controls to be followed by carriers and users.* |
| Animals, birds and other livestock | Animals, birds and other livestock including poultry, bovine animals, swine, ovine animals, caprine animals, aquaculture animals and equidae. Third countries commercial imports of live animals must enter through approved border inspection post and are subject to import rules contained in the Trade in Animals and Related Products 2011 Regulations (Devolved Regulation) SI 2011/1197 (with mirror instruments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). Commercial imports of live animals from member states within EU single market or from EEA state or Switzerland may enter the UK through any port. Council Directive 2009/156/EC on animal health conditions governing the movement and importation from third countries of equidae. Council Directive 2004/68/EC laying down animal health rules for the importation into and transit through the Community of certain live ungulate animals. Council Directive 91/496/EC laying down the principles governing the organization of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries – also see ‘invasive alien species’). |
| Asbestos | The importation of asbestos as defined in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and every item to which it has been intentionally added is prohibited. The exceptions are listed in Schedule 3 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.* |
| Bushmeat | Meat of wild animals originating in West and Central Africa. Products must be imported through a border inspection post (BIP) and are subject to The Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations (TARP) 2011 regulations – see ‘products of animal origin’. |
| Cat and dog fur | The importation of cat and dog fur, and products made from such fur is prohibited unless the goods are of a non-commercial nature.* |
| Chemicals prohibited by REACH | The import of substances (or mixtures and articles containing the substance) restricted under REACH is prohibited, unless specifically exempted by the conditions of the restriction. In the case of substances subject to authorisation, the placing on the market and use is prohibited after the sunset date for a substance unless an authorisation is granted to the applicant. Exemptions (categories of uses) may apply to substances subject to authorisation. |
| Chemical weapons, and their precursors | The Import of Goods (Control) Order 1954(as amended), made under section 1 of the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939, prohibits the import of all goods into the UK except under the authority of a licence. Annex 2 to the UK open general import licence (OGIL) requires the chemicals listed in schedules 1 and 2 of the Chemical Weapons Convention 1993 to be accompanied by a valid import licence where appropriate.* |
| EU Regulations relevant to persistent organic pollutant chemicals | Persistent organic pollutant chemicals restricted or banned in Annex I of the Regulation EU 2019/1021. |
| EU Regulations relevant to Mercury | Goods restricted or banned under the Mercury Regulation EU 2017/ 852. |
| Conservation controls (on endangered species) | See ‘endangered species’. |
| Controlled drugs | Controlled drugs as specified in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. |
| Cordless telephones | Cordless telephones designed for use on frequencies of not more than 853 MHz is prohibited unless imported under an authority issued by OFCOM.* |
| Counterfeit coins | Protected coins as defined in the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 which are counterfeit within the meaning for the purposes of that Act.* You may also need to make a cash declaration. |
| Counterfeit currency notes | Currency notes as defined in the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 which are counterfeit within the meaning for the purposes of that Act.* You may also need to make a cash declaration. |
| Counterfeit, pirated and patent infringing goods | The import of counterfeit, pirated and patent-infringing goods is prohibited if the relevant right holder or their authorised representative has lodged an intellectual property rights application with HMRC.* |
| Cultural goods |
Council Regulation (EC) 116/2009 prohibits the export of certain cultural goods. The Export of Objects of Cultural Interest (Control) Order 2003 complements the EU Regulation by further prohibiting the export of certain cultural goods from the UK without a valid licence.* The Export Control (Syria Sanctions)(Amendment) Order 2014 SI No 2014 1896 of 16 July 2014 (the Order), which came into force on 8 August 2014, provides for the enforcement of trade sanctions relating to Syrian cultural property specified in Article 11c of Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 (the Regulation) and creates new offences and penalties for their breach. The Regulation prohibits throughout the UK and EU the import, export, transfer, or provision of brokering services for the import, export or transfer, of Syrian cultural property and other goods described in it, where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they have been removed illegally or without the consent of their owner.* Article 8 of The Iraq (United Nations Sanctions) Order 2003 (SI 2003/1519) prohibits the import or export of illegally removed Iraqi cultural property from the UK.* |
| Dairy products | See ‘products of animal origin’. |
| Diamond trading | See ‘rough diamonds’. |
| Dissostichus ssp (Patagonian toothfish, Antarctic toothfish) | See ‘fish and fish products’. |
| Drug precursor chemicals | As defined within Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 except under licence. |
| Endangered species | Any animal or plant, whether alive or dead, or its parts or derivatives of the species listed in Annexes A to D of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations 1996 (as retained EU law) which implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) in the UK. |
| Explosives | Explosive articles, explosive substances and desensitised explosives as defined in regulation 2 of the Explosives Regulations 2014. |
| False identity documents | To prevent the importation and export of false identity documents. Section 101 (1) of the Police and Crime Act 2009 prohibits the import and export of false identity documents.* |
| Firearms and ammunition | Firearms and ammunition as defined in sections 57 (1) and (2) of the Firearms Act 1968. |
| Fireworks | No person shall import any firework, unless he or she has information to the Commissioners of Customs and Excise as required under Regulation 11 in the Fireworks Regulations 2004 (under powers delegated from the Fireworks Act 2003), the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015, and British Standards BS 7114 until 4/7/17 and BS-EN 15947-2015. The definition of fireworks is set out in Regulation 3 in the Fireworks Regulations 2004. |
| Fish and fish products | Fish and fishery products as defined in the Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Regulation (Regulation EC 1005/2008) with exceptions as specified in Annex 1 of that Regulation. |
| Fruit and vegetables | Certain types of fruit and vegetables are subject to conformity checks and will only be released from customs control when these checks are satisfactorily completed. Find out about certain fruit and vegetables that must have a certificate of conformity. See also plants and plant products including wood products. |
| Goods bearing false indications of origin | Goods bearing a false trade description, applied outside the UK, relating to the place of manufacture, production, processing or reconditioning of the goods or any part thereof are prohibited.* |
| Goods infringing a trade mark | Goods which are, in relation to a registered trade mark, infringing goods, material or articles, where the proprietor of the trademark, or a licensee, has given notice to HMRC under Section 89 of the Trade Marks Act 1994 requesting such goods to be treated as prohibited.* |
| Goods infringing copyright | Goods which are infringing copies of a published literary, dramatic or musical work, a sound recording or film, where the owner of the copyright has given notice to HMRC under Section 111 of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 requesting such goods to be treated as prohibited.* |
| Government guarantee | Articles bearing devices implying or tending to imply any government sanction or guarantee are prohibited.* |
| Hay and straw | See products of animal origin. |
| High risk feed and food products | All products of animal origin and specified food and feed not of animal origin which are deemed to be ‘high risk’ by the Food Standards Agency under Regulation 669/2009 are prohibited.* |
| Honey | See ‘products of animal origin’. |
| Hops | To control the importation of hops and hops products to ensure hops and hops products are certified as complying with minimum quality characteristics. EC Regulation (EC) No 1295 / 2008 sets out the import conditions and exceptions for the imports of hops and hops products. |
| Hops and hop products | Hops imported into the UK must be accompanied by one of the following as evidence that they meet UK marketing standards: EU Attestation of Equivalence (can be used until 29 March 2021) EU certificate for hops imported from the EU (can be used until 29 March 2021) EU Attestations of Equivalence can be issued by any agency currently authorised to do so as set out in Annex I of EC Regulation 1295/2008. |
| Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Regulations | See ‘fish and fish products’. |
| Indecent and obscene material | The prohibition on the importation of indecent and obscene material is contained in section 42 of the Customs Consolidation Act 1876. It prohibits ‘indecent or obscene prints, paintings, photographs, books, cards, lithographic or other engravings, or any other indecent or obscene articles’. Such material held today on electronic devices (computers, memory sticks, and so on) is also covered by the legislation. The prohibition applies to imports from both EU and non-EU countries.* |
| Insects | See ‘pests and animals’. |
| Invasive Alien Species (IAS) | To prevent, minimise and mitigate the adverse impact on biodiversity of the introduction and spread both intentionally and unintentionally of Invasive (non-native) Alien Species (IAS) as defined in the Regulation (EU) 1143/2014. Find the list of invasive alien species of ‘Union concern’. The Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019 makes it an offence to import listed these species into the UK without the correct permit or licence. |
| Leghold trap furs | See ‘endangered species’. |
| Lottery material | Tickets, advertisements and other material relating to foreign lotteries.* |
| Meat and meat products | See ‘products of animal origin’. |
| Nuclear materials | Uranium ore concentrates, plutonium, uranium 233, uranium enriched in isotopes 233 or 235, natural uranium and mixtures, compounds and alloys containing any of the foregoing, including spent or irradiated nuclear reactor fuel elements (cartridges). |
| Offensive weapons | Offensive weapons as specified in section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 are prohibited*. |
| Organic produce | All organic food and feed as defined in articles 1 and 2 of EC Regulation 834/2007 from third countries (excluding the EU, EEA States and Switzerland) require a UK Certificate of Inspection. All products must be recognised as organic in accordance with the organic Regulations. |
| Ozone depleting substances and HFCs | Controlled substances and new substances as specified in Article 3 of the Ozone Depleting Substances Regulation (Regulation EC 1005/2009) and hydrofluorocarbons as defined in the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulation (Regulation EU 517/2014). |
| Pathogens (animal only) | Animal pathogens as defined in the Importation of Animal Pathogens Order 1980 (1980 No 1212). |
| Pests | As specified in Annexes III and V of Directive 2000/29/EC. As regards prohibited plant pests – Schedules 1 and 2 – and for prohibited material Schedules 3 and 5. |
| Plants and plant products | Plants and plant products (including cut flowers) which are specified as prohibited or controlled in the guidance published by the Animal & Plant Health Agency dated January 2019, summary of import requirements for plants, plant produce and products.* |
| Prison-made goods | The importation of goods made in foreign prisons is prohibited under section 1 of The Foreign Prison-Made Goods Act 1897. Goods made, or produced wholly or in part, in any foreign prison, gaol, house of correction or penitentiary, except goods in transit or not imported for the purposes of trade or of a description not manufactured in the UK.* |
| Products of animal origin | All products of animal origin, including any products derived from animals or products that have a close relationship with animals. This includes all controlled products as specified in Regulation (EU) No 206/2009 on the introduction into the Community of personal consignments of products of animal origin. Council Directive 97/78/EC laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries. Council Directive 2002/99/EC laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption. Commercial imports of Product of Animal Origin (POAO) from third countries must enter via approved border inspection post. In addition, the commercial and personal consignments of POAO are subject to import rules contained in the Trade in Animals and Related Products 2011 Regulations (Devolved Regulation) SI 2011/1197 (with mirror instruments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). A point to note that border inspection post will be renamed as border control post from 14 December 2019 in accordance with the official control Regulation EU 2017/625. |
| Pyrotechnic articles including fireworks | Pyrotechnic articles, including fireworks, as defined in regulation 2 of the Explosives Regulations 2014. |
| Rabies susceptible mammals | Live animals as specified in Schedule 1 to the Rabies Order (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) 1974. Non-commercial movements of pet dogs, cats and ferrets that comply with the EU pet travel scheme would not be caught by the Rabies Order but would be subject to the rules of the pet travel scheme. |
| Rabies virus | See ‘rabies susceptible mammals unless licensed’. |
| Radiotelephonic transmitters | Citizen’s band radios, walkie-talkies, microbugs and radio microphones designed or adapted to transmit in the frequency band 26.1 to 28 MHz unless are prohibited unless you have an authority from OFCOM.* |
| Realistic imitation firearms | Realistic imitation firearms as defined in section 38 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006. |
| Rough diamonds | Rough diamonds as defined in Regulation EC 2368/2002. |
| Seal products | The importation for free circulation of all seal products is prohibited unless you have a licence or certificate issued by the country of origin to allow you to import for either for the personal use or the management of marine resources. |
| Soil (excluding peat) | Soil, including any organic material which is capable of sustaining plant life and which contains solid organic matter, with the exceptions of pure and unused peat, moss and bark. |
| Stamps | Fictitious postage stamps denoting current rates of postage and dies, plates, instruments and materials for making such stamps. |
| Torture equipment | Goods which could be used for the purposes of capital punishment or torture and other cruel, degrading or inhuman treatment or punishment, and in related technical assistance, as defined in Regulation EC 1236/2005. |
| Toxic chemicals | See ‘toxic chemicals and precursors’. |
| Toxic chemicals and precursors | Chemicals as specified under Schedule 1 of the Chemical Weapons Convention’s Schedules of Chemicals. |
| Unauthorised veterinary medicines | Veterinary medicine can only be imported if accompanied by a certificate from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate within Defra. For more information, please see further online guidance on the special import scheme.* |
| Videosenders | The importation of equipment used to transmit video images in the frequency band 470-854 MHz is prohibited unless you have an authority from OFCOM.* |
| White phosphorus matches | To prevent illegal imports of white phosphorus matches. Regulation 4(2)(b) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 prohibits the importation of matches made with white phosphorus into the UK from countries outside of the EU.* |
| Wood | See also separate entry for wooden packaging. Wood (except processed wood, for example, plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) and so on) including bark, of certain types and species of tree, except when accompanied by an appropriate health or other certificate issued, normally, by the plant protection service in the country of origin. Bark of oak except cork oak from any country in North America is prohibited by the Plant Health (Forestry) Order 2005. Summary of import requirements for wood, wood products and bark. |
| Wood packaging material, pallets and timber used to protect or restrain cargo | Any wooden packaging or related timber based packing (except those made from plywood, OSB, MDF and so on, or thin wood less than 6mm thick or gift boxes for wines and spirits, cigar boxes and so on) found with goods from third countries are subject to an import control as the means of preventing the introduction of tree pest and disease species. Summary of import requirements for wood, wood products and bark. |
*Goods are restricted unless you have a licence or written permission from the UK government or a UK court of law.
Find out more about the strategic export goods that are deemed to be restricted upon export as they require an export licence.
Updates to this page
Published 15 October 2019Last updated 1 December 2023 + show all updates
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This guidance is under review and not being updated. Refer to the UK Integrated Online Tariff for up-to-date information.
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First published.