Don't waste money on holiday souvenirs that are illegal

A recent report by ABTA and The Travel Foundation has found that many holiday makers are confused about what they can and can't bring back to the UK when they return home from their holiday.

The report found that 11% of holidaymakers thought that it was ok to bring ivory back from holiday, when in fact there has been an international ban on the import of ivory since 1990.

In contrast, almost a third of respondents thought that it was illegal to bring religious artefacts back to the UK, although that is not the case at all.As well as ivory, other goods to avoid because they are subject to a ban on international trade include bushmeat, including whale meat from Iceland, products made from big cats and plants including orchids and cacti. Attempting to bring these items back into the UK will not only result in the item being confiscated and disposed of, it could also lead to you being prosecuted.

In general, if you are travelling back from an EU country you can bring back most goods without restriction, although it is important to remember that some items are banned no matter where you are travelling from including drugs such as morphine, offensive weapons and indecent or obscene material, as well as items that are subject to an international trade ban which we mentioned above.

If you are travelling outside of the EU there are more restrictions to remember such as a limit on the amount of alcohol or cigarettes that you can bring back as well as a complete ban on the import of meat or dairy products.

Find out more about what you can and can't bring back from holiday.

Whether you are travelling within the EU or further afield it is vital get appropriate travel insurance for your trip before you depart the UK.

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