Meat and dairy imports in Ireland (2026)

Last reviewed: 13 October 2026

In short: Travellers may not bring meat, milk or their products into Ireland from outside the EU, including Great Britain, apart from small derogations such as 2 kg of infant milk and 20 kg of fish. The ban does not apply to products moved between EU states or from a short list of European countries.

RuleWhat applies
Meat and dairy from EU statesPersonal travelAllowed [1]
Meat and dairy from non-EU countriesPersonal travelNot allowed as a personal import [2]
Meat and dairy from Great BritainPersonal travelNot allowed as a personal import [2]
Infant milk and medical food allowancePersonal travel2 kg [2]
Fish allowance from non-EU countriesPersonal travel20 kg [2]
Origins with looser rulesPersonal travelAndorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland [1]

Notes

  • The Commission page states the rules do not apply to products moved between EU Member States.
  • Personal consignments of products of animal origin, in luggage or by post, are prohibited, with limited derogations (Revenue manual, Annex 1). Up to 10 kg from the Faroe Islands or Greenland is allowed under the EU rules.
  • Great Britain is outside the EU. The Department of Agriculture page that names Great Britain and Northern Ireland could not be read, so Northern Ireland is not listed here.
  • Only for powdered infant milk, infant food and special medical food that needs no refrigeration, is packaged proprietary brand and has unbroken packaging. The allowance is 0 kg in postal consignments.
  • The limit is 20 kg or the weight of one fish, whichever is higher. It covers fishery products including fresh eviscerated fish.
  • The exemption is stated in the Commission summary of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2122, which the Revenue manual lists as relevant legislation.

Sources

  1. European Commission, Food Safety: Personal imports (consulted 13 October 2026) · all sources
  2. Revenue Commissioners: Tax and Duty Manual: Personal importation of live animals and products of animal origin (updated January 2025) (consulted 13 October 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.