Includes a list of goods that are prohibited from being exported to the country or are otherwise restricted.
Last Published: 8/2/2019

There are certain goods that cannot be brought into the UK under any circumstances, and some goods that are restricted. This is to protect the UK from crime, pests and diseases.  The following goods are banned completely regardless of country of origin: illicit drugs, offensive weapons such as flick and gravity knives, self-defense sprays such as pepper and CS gas sprays, indecent and obscene material rough diamonds and personal imports of meat and dairy products from most non-EU countries.  The UK government provides current and complete information on banned or restricted goods.

The UK participates in the Wassenaar Arrangement for the control of dual-use exports; the Australia Group (AG) for the control of chemical and biological weapons; and the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) for nuclear-related goods, preventing the export of restricted goods and technology to countries of proliferation concern. The UK also supports United Nations’ sanctions restricting exports to certain other destinations. Although sensitive to the extraterritorial application of U.S. law in export controls, the UK authorities cooperate with the U.S. in preventing the re-export of sensitive goods and technology of U.S.-origin to unauthorized destinations, when the enforcement action is based on multilateral controls.

The UK is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international agreement between governments that came into force in 1975. The import, export and use for commercial gain of certain species requires a CITES permit.

Animal and Plant Health Agency’s Centre for International Trade - Bristol is the part of the UK CITES management authority responsible for dealing with CITES applications.

The UK Forrestry Commision is responsible for forrestry in the UK and it controls the import of certain wood, wood products and bask. 
 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.