Foodstuffs
When you arrive from an EU country
When you arrive from an EU country, you are generally allowed to bring in foodstuffs of animal origin to Finland without restrictions. Further information on the Finnish Food Authority website. Don’t forget to take the spreading of the Afrikan Swine Fever into account, though.
When you arrive from outside the EU
Bringing in foodstuffs from outside the EU is subject to restrictions, and these regulations are supervised by the Finnish Food Authority. For example, you are not allowed to bring in meat, meat products, milk or dairy products.
However, you are allowed to bring in infant formula, baby food and foodstuffs required for special medical reasons up to a maximum quantity of 2 kg. The products must be of well-known brands and in their original, unopened retail packages when they are not used, and it should be possible to store them in room temperature.
Fruits and vegetables
The new plant health legislation restricts travellers from bringing in plants and plant products from outside the European Union without a phytosanitary certificate.
In future, you cannot bring in as much as an apple from outside the EU territory without a phytosanitary certificate
Foodstuffs of animal origin
The import of foods of animal origin and, for instance, pet foods from non-EU countries is restricted due to the risk of animal diseases. Here, the crucial thing is from what country you are importing the foodstuffs. Read our guidance and contact Finnish Food Authority when necessary.
Exception:
You are allowed to import meat, meat products, milk or dairy products from the following non-EU countries: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and Iceland.
There are no restrictions on the quantity of products you may bring in, as long as
- the value of the imports does not exceed the limits laid down for traveller imports
- the quantity can be deemed reasonable for personal consumption.
Fishery products
You are allowed to bring in 20 kg of fishery products or one gutted fish regardless of its weight.
The weight limit does not apply to the following countries: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland.
Do bear in mind that the country of departure, for example Norway, may have placed restrictions on exports of fishery products. Check with the customs authority of the departure country to find out if export restrictions apply.
Foodstuffs that you can bring in without quantitative restrictions
According to the EU’s regulation on personal imports of products of animal origin, a traveller can import the following foodstuffs without restrictions:
- Bread, cakes, biscuits, chocolate and confectionery (including sweets) not mixed or filled with meat product.
- Pasta and noodles not mixed or filled with meat product.
- Soup stocks and flavourings packaged for the final consumer.
- Meat extracts and meat concentrates.
- Any other food product not containing any fresh or processed meat or dairy and with less than 50 % of processed egg or fishery products.
Read Finnish Food Authority’s guidance on personal imports. Please note also that beside the above restrictions, personal imports are also governed by safeguard measures that have to be followed. It is always the importers responsibility to follow the safeguard measures.
Other foodstuff derived from animals
You can import other products, such as honey, frogs’ legs, snails and eggs in quantities not exceeding 2 kg.
As regards caviar, you are allowed to import a maximum amount of 125 grams without an EU CITES import permit. The EU CITES Convention regulates the trade in endangered and protected species of wild fauna and flora and derived products.
