England, April 12
The United Kingdom government announced that it has expanded its ban on personal imports of meat and dairy products to include all European Union (EU) countries as foot-and-mouth disease spreads across the continent.
Starting Saturday, travellers entering the UK will no longer be allowed to bring cattle, sheep, goat, pig meat and dairy products from all EU countries for personal use.
Items such as sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats and milk are prohibited regardless of their packaging or whether they were purchased at duty-free shops, reports news agency.
This measure aims to protect the health of British livestock, the security of farmers and the UK's food security, according to the government.
Travellers found carrying these items will be required to surrender them at the border or face confiscation and destruction. In severe cases, violators could incur fines of up to 5,000 pounds (6,550 US dollars) in England.