The Main Department of the State Service for Food and Consumer Protection in the Kharkiv region informs citizens about the basic requirements when moving food products for personal consumption across the customs border of Ukraine.
According to Article 60 of the Law of Ukraine No. 771/97-VR «On Basic Principles and Requirements for the Safety and Quality of Food Products», food products exported or forwarded from Ukraine must meet the requirements of the country of destination. In cases stipulated by the legislation of the country to which food products are imported, such products must be accompanied by originals of international certificates or other documents issued by the competent authority of Ukraine.
In this regard, citizens who plan to transport or ship food products outside Ukraine for their own consumption are recommended to familiarize themselves in advance with the requirements of the destination country regarding the import of food products.
When moving food products across the customs border, the following must be taken into account:
• food products must be in factory packaging and properly labeled;
• it is necessary to adhere to the storage and transportation conditions specified by the manufacturer;
• it is desirable to have documents confirming the origin and quality of the products;
• Certain types of food products may be prohibited or restricted from import in accordance with the legislation of the country of destination.
Particular attention should be paid to products of animal origin, home-made products, as well as food products without proper labeling or documentary confirmation of their origin, as the import of such products into certain countries may be restricted or prohibited.
Failure to comply with the established requirements may result in the detention of products during customs control, refusal of import, return or destruction of food products in accordance with the legislation of the country of destination.
We would like to separately draw your attention to the fact that the movement of food products to European Union countries for personal use is regulated by strict requirements aimed at preventing the spread of infectious diseases and ensuring food safety.
Currently, the legislation of individual European Union countries imposes restrictions on the import of meat, meat and dairy products, as well as certain products containing components of animal origin. In particular, the import of the following may be prohibited or restricted to certain EU countries:
• meat and meat products - lard (in any form), sausages, smoked meats, canned meats, pâtés, etc.;
• milk and dairy products — cheese, sour cream, yogurt, butter, cream, etc.;
• pastries with meat or dairy filling;
• products containing lard or animal fats;
• home preservation due to the lack of industrial labeling or the presence of components of animal origin.
It is allowed to transport other food products within the limits established by the legislation and requirements of the country of destination, provided that the products are in their original packaging, properly labeled and transported in compliance with the temperature and humidity conditions specified by the manufacturer. It is also advisable to keep the accompanying documents or receipts received when purchasing the products.
It should be noted that the rules may differ depending on the European Union country to which the citizen is traveling, therefore, before each trip, it is recommended to check the current requirements of the competent authorities of the relevant state.
You can familiarize yourself with the current rules for moving food products across the customs border of Ukraine on the official information resources of the State Customs Service of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
The Main Department of the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection in the Kharkiv region recommends that citizens take a responsible approach to complying with the requirements of legislation in the field of food safety and clarify in advance the rules for importing food products to the country of destination.
To avoid misunderstandings when crossing the customs border, we recommend that you familiarize yourself in advance with the customs regulations of the country into whose territory you plan to import food products.