Canarian residents and tourists travelling to the UK are facing new restrictions that could impact long-standing traditions and local trade. As of 12th April, the British government has enforced a ban on the importation of certain meat and dairy products for personal consumption from the European Union and several neighbouring countries.
The move is part of heightened efforts to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, a highly contagious virus affecting livestock.
The ban extends beyond EU nations, including Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland. Affected products include all meats from cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, and deer, along with their derivatives such as sausages, salamis, pâtés, and prepared meals containing meat or cheese.
Dairy products, including cheese, butter, yoghurt, and milk, are also barred under the new rules, even if they are factory-sealed or purchased from duty-free retailers.
There are limited exemptions. Travellers may bring up to two kilograms of infant formula, baby food, or medically essential dietary products, provided they are in original branded packaging, unopened, and do not require refrigeration.
Failure to comply with the restrictions could lead to immediate confiscation of the goods and fines of up to £5,000 (approximately €5,800).
For the Canary Islands, the impact is significant. British visitors, who form a major share of the region’s tourism, often purchase local products such as artisanal cheeses, sausages, and other delicacies to take home. Favourites like almogrote, roasted pork leg (pata asada), and Goat cheeses from La Palma or Fuerteventura now fall under the ban.
The restrictions also affect the thousands of Canarians who have settled in the UK, currently estimated at around 7,500. Many of them return from visits to the islands with traditional foods as gifts or personal staples. These new rules now prevent that practice, adding a layer of difficulty for those maintaining strong cultural and family ties across borders.
Local producers, too, could feel the sting. With fewer tourists able to export their favourite Canarian products home, small food businesses may see a drop in overseas demand.
The UK’s decision follows recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia. While the disease poses no threat to humans, it spreads rapidly among cloven-hoofed animals and can devastate livestock populations. Britain’s worst outbreak, in 2001, led to the culling of over six million animals and cost the economy an estimated £8 billion.
In response, British authorities have reinforced border biosecurity and urged farmers to be vigilant for early signs of the disease, such as blisters or sores in affected animals.
