Can I bring cheese, butter, yoghurt or cream from a country outside the EU?
In short
No. You cannot bring dairy products from a country outside the EU (except from a few European countries such as Switzerland and Norway). There are only a few exceptions, such as infant formula and medical diet products.
Video transcript
Your suitcase holds cheese, butter and cream. Not allowed: Bringing dairy products from outside the EU is forbidden. Homemade or packaged makes no difference. The right way: Do not bring them. For exceptions like baby food, take the red channel and declare. Outcome: The product: Seized and destroyed; Also: Risk of a fine; Large amounts: Risk of prosecution.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- You cannot bring cheese, butter, yoghurt, cream, milk or milk-based foods from countries outside the EU. Some processed products with a low milk content (e.g. chocolate, sweets, bread, biscuits, cake) are not covered by this ban.
- It makes no difference if it is homemade farmhouse cheese or a sealed product from the supermarket.
- Exception: powdered infant formula, baby food and special food for medical purposes, up to 2 kg per person. The product must be unopened, branded and in packaging that does not need to be kept cold.
- If you are not sure, go through the red channel at customs and declare the product.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- The product is seized and destroyed; you also risk a fine.
Legal basis:Your Europe – Vlees, zuivel en dierlijke producten
- Court / prison
- You risk prosecution, especially for large amounts or if you bring it to sell.
Legal basis:Your Europe – Vlees en zuivel
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- You will never get the product back
Legal basis:Your Europe – Vlees en zuivel
- Time lost at the customs check and an official report
- For commercial amounts, a smuggling investigation
Legal basis:AWDA 18.7.1977, art. 220 §1, 221
Why does this rule exist?
Dairy products can also carry animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease. This rule protects animals and farmers in Europe.
Where can you go?
- CustomsIf in doubt, go through the red channel at the airport and ask
- Food safety agency (FAVV / AFSCA)Rules for bringing in food and plants
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 8 / 8 statements in an official source
- Checked: 02.11.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 8 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
AB dışından süt ürünü getirmek yasak
Your Europe – Vlees, zuivel en dierlijke producten - Found in an official source
Ev yapımı veya market ürünü olması fark etmez
FASFC – Animal foodstuffs (going on holiday) - Found in an official source
İstisna: bebek maması/tıbbi gıda en fazla 2 kg; açılmamış, markalı, soğuk zincir gerektirmeyen
FASFC – Animal foodstuffs - Found in an official source
El koyma, imha, para cezası riski
Your Europe – Vlees, zuivel en dierlijke producten - Found in an official source
Beyan edilmeyen süt ürünleri için para cezası veya ceza kovuşturması mümkün
Your Europe – Vlees en zuivel - Found in an official source
Beyan edilmeyen süt ürünlerine el konur ve imha edilir
Your Europe – Vlees en zuivel - Found in an official source
Beyansız/yasak mal sokmak (kaçakçılık) hapis, el koyma ve para cezasıyla cezalandırılır
AWDA 18.7.1977, art. 220 §1, 221 - Found in an official source
Düzeltme (Kasım 2026 doğrulaması): Peynir, tereyağı, yoğurt, kaymak, süt ve süt içeren ürünler yasak
Verordening 2019/2122, Bijlage III pt. 7
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?