Meat and dairy imports in the Netherlands (2026)

Last reviewed: 9 October 2026

In short: Meat and dairy may be carried from other EU states, though customs advises against it. From outside the EU, including Great Britain, meat and dairy may not be brought in.

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 [3]
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, Northern Ireland, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland [2]

Notes

  • Dutch customs allows meat, fish and dairy from other EU countries in luggage but advises against bringing them because of animal diseases.
  • Exceptions: powdered infant milk, infant food and special medical food (2 kg), and packaged products where the dairy is no longer recognisable, such as chocolate and biscuits.
  • Applies to goods arriving from England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is treated like the EU.
  • Fish must be eviscerated, or prepared or processed. The limit is 20 kg or the weight of one fish, whichever is higher.
  • The NVWA table lists these origins under small quantities without defining the amount.

Sources

  1. Douane Nederland: Dierlijke producten en levensmiddelen meenemen (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
  2. Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit (NVWA): Ik wil vlees, zuivel of andere dierlijke producten meenemen naar Nederland (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
  3. European Commission, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety: Diseases don't respect borders (poster for travellers) (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources

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