Ban on personal import of meat and dairy products

WQ.70/2026

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT BY DEPUTY H.L. JEUNE OF ST. JOHN, ST. LAWRENCE AND TRINITY

QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 2nd MARCH 2026 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 9th MARCH 2026

Question

“Will the Minister advise when the ban will be lifted on the personal importation of dairy and meat products from the European Union, European Economic Area (EEA) states, and Switzerland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, and if a lift on this ban is not planned, explain why not?”

Answer

The ban is in place to protect Jersey livestock (cattle, sheep, goats and pigs) from highly infectious diseases currently present in several European countries, these diseases are currently not in Jersey.

These include:

· FMD (foot and mouth disease) – currently present in Cyprus and with recent outbreaks in Slovakia, Hungary and Germany (outbreaks now considered resolved in the last 3 countries). Current outbreak in Cyprus (detected in 25/02/2026 and currently active) is affecting at least 23 livestock units (data up to 5.03.26), with cases confirmed in sheep, goat, and cattle farms, primarily in the Larnaca district. Over 20,000 animals have been identified for or have already undergone culling to control the spread.

FMD can be transmitted to animals via contaminated milk, milk products and contaminated meat and meat products.

· PPR (pest the petites ruminants) - is a highly contagious viral disease affecting goats, sheep, camels and wild ruminants. With a mortality rate of up to 90 %, the disease causes severe economic losses, threatening food security and livelihoods. Present in Greece, Romania and Bulgaria. PPR can be transmitted to animals via untreated milk or milk products and meat and meat products.

· LSD (Lumpy Skin disease) – present in Spain, France and Italy, affects mainly cattle. LSD causes significant economic losses due to damaged hides, reduced milk and weight in animals, infertility, and trade restrictions. LSD can be transmitted to animal via untreated milk or milk products and contaminated meat products.

· ASF (African Swine Fever) – outbreaks in domestic pigs in Latvia, Croatia, and in wild boar in Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain. ASF can be transmitted to susceptible animals via meat and meat products.

Personal imports also pose a particular challenge for traceability as the origin of the POAO cannot be ascertained as they are not accompanied by any assurances including traceability and origin of some of the components of the products.

Similar ban is in place in the UK, Guernsey and Isle of Man.

To note that EU rules also prohibit bringing these items in personal baggage from 3rd countries.

We continue to monitor the disease situation in EEA countries and constantly review the information and disease risk. The intention is to lift the restrictions once the epidemiological situation in Europe improves which may need to acceptable risk for Jersey livestock population.