Food for personal consumption
1. Foods of animal origin
Starting May 1, 2004, pursuant to European Commission Regulation 745/2004 of April 16, 2004, travellers from third countries (including the United States and Canada) are prohibited from taking foodstuffs of animal origin to Spain for their personal consumption as part of their luggage. This prohibition affects all meats, meat products, milk, and dairy products. Exceptions are those specified in Annex I (powdered infant milk, infant food, and food required for medical reasons, packaged in commercial containers and not needing refrigeration before opening) and those specified in Art. 1, paragraphs 2 and 3.
2. Fruit, vegetables and plants
If traveler is planning to take fruits, vegetables or plants as part of their personal luggage, please visit the information provided by the Plant Health Service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, " Información para viajeros para introducción de vegetales y productos vegetales¨ (this information is only available in Spanish)
Traveling to the Peninsula and Baleares Islands.
The entrance of fruits, vegetables and plants included in Annex III of Royal Decree 58/2005 is forbidden. The rest of fruits, vegetables and plants must be declare at the Spanish customs such as:
Live Plants
- Including bonsais, cuttings, gratts, etc., for both personal and commercial use independently the amount that is brought to Spain. At any case, this material will be accompanied by an Official Phitosanitary certificate issued by an Official authority of the country of origin and free of soil.
- Cut flowers and bouquets for ornamentation.
- If flowers or foliage for ornamentation do not exceed the amount of 6 units, it is not necessary to declare them at the Spanish custom.
Fresh fruits
- It will not be necessary to declare fresh fruits at customs when the amount of fruits do not exceed 1kg per person.
- Small size fruits (cherries, strawberries, berries, grapes for consumption): 1kg per person
- Mediun size fruits (apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines, citrics, pears, apples) 3 units per person
- Tropical fruits (mangos) 2 units per person
Fesh Vegetables
- It will not be necessary to declare them if do not exceed 1kg per person. There is an exception for seed potatoes and potatoes for consumption which always have to be declared at customs
3. Other foodstuffs
In accordance with EC Regulation 918/83, foodstuffs other than animal products may be introduced in Spain, limited to 1 kg. (2.2 lb) per person, as long as they are part of the personal luggage of travelers coming from a third country, provided such imports are of a non-commercial nature.
For the purposes of the above paragraph, and in accordance to EC Regulation 918/83:
Personal luggage means the whole of the luggage which a traveler is in a position to submit to the customs authorities on his arrival in Spain, as well as any luggage submitted to this same authority at a later date, provided that evidence can be produced to prove that it was registered, at the time of the traveler's departure, as accompanied luggage with the company which transported it into the community from the third country of departure.
Imports of a non-commercial nature means imports which:
- are of an occasional nature, and
- consist exclusively of goods for the personal use of the travelers or their families, or of goods intended as presents; the nature and quantity of such goods should not be such as might indicate that they are being imported for commercial reasons.
Regarding the importation of tobacco, alcoholic drinks, and other foodstuffs, including those of commercial nature, you will find the maximum quantities allowed in Spain under customs clearance (exempt of import tax) in this table.
Please note that the "non-commercial" nature of the food products will be determined by the customs officer on a case-by-case basis. If you have any questions, you may contact the Customs Office at your port of entry in advance. Follow this link to obtain the phone numbers of the different Customs Offices.