Can I bring sucuk, salami or dried meat in my suitcase when I come back from a country outside the EU?
In short
No. You cannot bring meat or meat products from a country outside the EU. This includes homemade products and small amounts. There are exceptions only for a few European countries, such as Switzerland and Norway.
Video transcript
Coming back from a country outside the EU, you have sucuk, pastırma and kavurma in your suitcase. Not allowed: Bringing meat products from outside the EU is forbidden: even homemade, even a little. The right way: Do not bring them. If you are not sure, take the red channel and declare. Outcome: The product: Seized and destroyed; Also: Risk of a fine; Large amounts: Smuggling investigation.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- You cannot bring in any meat or meat products, such as sucuk, salami, dried meat, kavurma or minced meat, from countries outside the EU.
- It makes no difference if the product is homemade, vacuum-packed or only "a small amount".
- This applies to products in your suitcase and in your hand luggage. The same rule applies if you send them by parcel or post.
- If you are not sure, go through the red channel ("goods to declare") 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, zuivel en dierlijke producten
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?
This rule stops animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease and swine fever from entering Europe. Even one infected product can start an outbreak and cause great harm to farmers.
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: 12.10.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 8 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
AB dışından et ve et ürünü getirmek yasak
Your Europe – Vlees, zuivel en andere dierlijke producten (laatste controle 23/12/2025) - Found in an official source
Ev yapımı, vakumlu veya az miktar olması fark etmez
European Commission – About personal imports (Gedelegeerde Verordening (EU) 2019/2122) - Found in an official source
Postayla gönderilen ürünler de aynı kurala tabi
European Commission – About personal imports - Found in an official source
Ürüne el konur ve imha edilir; para cezası riski
Your Europe – Vlees, zuivel en dierlijke producten - Found in an official source
Kovuşturma riski
Your Europe – Vlees, zuivel en dierlijke producten - Found in an official source
Şap ve Afrika domuz vebası gibi hayvan hastalıklarını önlemek
European Commission – Food Safety: Personal imports - Found in an official source
Beyan edilmeyen et 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
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?