Fresh Fruit 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Post-Brexit POAO and phytosanitary rules
Can I bring Fresh Fruit into United Kingdom?
Post-Brexit POAO and phytosanitary rules
Full details
Post-Brexit, the UK applies its own phytosanitary rules for fresh fruit from non-EU countries and is phasing in controls on EU fruit. Most commercially sourced fruit is from approved supply chains. Personal quantities of fruit from EU countries currently face minimal checks but this is changing. Enforcement in United Kingdom carries fines from GBP 250 to GBP 20,000 under Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 s.78, s.170 (typical personal cases are handled as civil infringements).
PENALTIES
- Fine: 250–20000 GBP
- Civil penalty only
Leaving United Kingdom with fresh fruit
Personal-use quantities of fresh fruit may generally be exported from United Kingdom for personal consumption; destination-country biosecurity restrictions on arrival are typically the binding constraint. Commercial or above-personal-use fresh-fruit export requires a Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the national plant protection organisation under the IPPC framework. Many destinations (Australia, New Zealand, US, Japan, EU for particular fruits) restrict or prohibit personal-import of fresh fruit regardless of origin-side export permissions. Australia and New Zealand additionally seize fresh fruit that reaches their border with fines.
Post-Brexit rules are still being phased in. Most commercial fruit is fine. If unsure, declare on arrival — declared goods at worst attract duty or surrender, while undeclared goods found in screening are seized and fined.
Personal quantities
Plant Health (Phytosanitary Conditions) Order 2019
This page covers destination customs rules in United Kingdom. Whether you can carry fresh fruit through security, in carry-on, or in checked baggage depends on airline and screening rules — see air travel rules.
Related rules
Fresh Fruit rules in other countries
Fresh Fruit
🇦🇺 Australia
Most fresh fruit is prohibited due to biosecurity risk. Must be declared.
Fresh Fruit
🇺🇸 United States
Most fresh fruit prohibited without permit
Fresh Fruit
🇯🇵 Japan
Strict plant quarantine; most fruit prohibited
Fresh Fruit
🇸🇬 Singapore
Generally permitted with declaration
Fresh Fruit
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Subject to MOCCAE inspection
Fresh Fruit
🇩🇪 Germany
EU phytosanitary rules apply from non-EU