Brits arriving back in the UK after a holiday have been warned about bringing one thing back with them that could land them with a £5,000 fine. Travel experts at Ski Vertigo have warned tourists to check customs regulations before making purchases abroad.

Those flying into the UK from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Faroe Islands and Greenland cannot bring with them any pork, beef, lamb, mutton, goat, venison, products made with these meats (sausage, salami), caviar, or dairy products like butter, cheese, and yoghurt. This is because they can carry diseases, which can “devastate our environment and economy”, according to the Government.

This also applies to meat, meat products, milk, and milk-based products from outside of the EU. The Government warns that people found with these foods must surrender them and, in serious cases, “run the risk of incurring fines of up to £5,000 in England”, so maybe think twice before trying to bring back that cheese or sausage you loved on holiday. To avoid being fined, Ski Vertigo recommends emptying every pocket of any bag, coat, rucksack, or suitcase you plan to take, especially those used for hiking or commuting.

Plan and pack ahead rather than throwing things in a bag at the last minute. Organise everything you need in advance, so you don’t miss anything important or carry something you shouldn’t.

Before travelling to any country, check the official government guidance about border control. Don’t rely on rumours or social media

From the EU, you can bring in bread, cakes, biscuits, chocolate and sweets, pasta and noodles, packaged soup/stock/flavouring, processed and packaged plant products, supplements with animal products (like fish oil capsules), and infant milk or food if it doesn’t need refrigeration. Fruit, vegetables, seeds, and nuts can be brought in from the EU. 

Only a small group of fruit can be brought in from outside the EU without a plant health certificate. From outside the EU, you can bring in honey, infant milk, shellfish, snails, frogs’ legs, insect meat, fresh gutted fish, fish products, processed fish, lobsters, and prawns.

Another often-forgotten item is a knife left in a rucksack from hiking. It is illegal to carry an offensive weapon in public without a good reason, including at airports. 

Flick knives, butterfly knives, and other banned blades are particularly serious, but even a small multi-tool with a locking blade can cause trouble. 

Sussex Police says these are regularly found in luggage at Gatwick. The maximum penalty for carrying a knife or weapon illegally is up to four years in prison and an unlimited fine.

Many travellers pick up THC vapes, cannabis gummies, or herbal cannabis in countries with more relaxed laws, then forget these are illegal once they land in the UK. 

Cannabis is a Class B drug here, and Government guidance states the maximum penalty for possession is up to five years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

Further details and information are available on the Government website on customs.