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How to Send Ham to the UK Legally
- Your Spanish Shop
- Current Affairs
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Sending ham to the UK is possible, as long as it is done properly. Generally speaking, most countries don't allow meat products to enter via standard post or parcel services, because these processes offer no health or safety guarantees. However, there are methods that comply with British law and allow ham to be sent to England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland legally.
In this guide we explain what the rules say, how a shipment of Iberian and serrano ham should be prepared after Brexit, and what happens with typical Spanish Christmas products such as turrón and polvorones.
Why you can't send ham to England by standard post
The UK's health and safety framework remains similar to the European one, despite Brexit. EU law states that any meat product can be seized if it doesn't meet the rules on preservation and transport, and UK law sets out the same condition.
One of the basic rules for transporting meat is that it must be carried at a specific temperature, without breaking the cold chain. As a result, meat detected in the standard post is usually seized, to prevent products that could be in poor condition from entering the country.
Ham is a very particular case, because it doesn't need special temperature conditions to keep well. Extreme conditions can affect how it keeps, but if the product is properly packaged it won't suffer any deterioration.
How to send ham to the UK legally
Sending ham privately without the right packaging carries a high risk, as the product may be intercepted and seized. Sending ham to England and other parts of the United Kingdom safely is possible when the shipment meets the right conditions, following a process similar to exporting Spanish cold meats and cheeses.
It is essential that the ham is properly packaged, whether it is a whole leg or sliced ham. A whole leg doesn't need special packaging, because the part you eat is preserved naturally. Sliced ham, however, requires vacuum packing: the oxygen is removed from inside the pack to prevent oxidation and keep its flavour and qualities intact. Sliced ham also takes up very little space once vacuum-packed, which lowers the shipping cost.
Assortment Of Sliced Iberian Guijuelo Canpipork 200 Gr.€16.24
Serrano ham of Winery loncheado Torre de Nuñez 120 gr.€3.99
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Sending Spanish Christmas products to the UK
At Christmas, interest grows in sending family and friends the best turrón, polvorones and typical Christmas sweets. These products travel well: most are sweets that don't contain ingredients the authorities consider unsafe, so it is very rare for them to be held or inspected at customs.
Even so, keep in mind that since Brexit all transactions with the United Kingdom are classified as imports, so customs fees and value or weight limits may apply. Checking the rules before buying avoids surprises on delivery.
Customs and restrictions when sending food to the UK after Brexit
When shipping food products from Spain to the UK it is crucial to take into account any specific restrictions and regulations that may apply, because the UK has set strict standards to ensure the safety and quality of imported food.
Generally speaking, some products may require special licences or be subject to additional controls at the border. Some fresh foods, meat products, dairy products and other perishable items may be subject to restrictions or even bans. In addition, food must meet UK labelling and quality standards: clear information on ingredients, allergens, best-before date, and so on.
How long does a food shipment to the UK take
Times depend on the type of shipment and the customs procedures. Customs clearance can take one to two days, depending on the efficiency of the customs service and the volume of orders. After that, transit to the final destination in the UK usually takes 4 to 5 days, although distance, transport method and weather all play a part (a coastal area in the south of England is not the same as the Highlands of Scotland).
These timeframes are necessary to make sure products enter the country legally and meet all health and safety requirements.
Where does Your Spanish Shop deliver?
At Your Spanish Shop we ship the best of Spanish gastronomy —Iberian hams, cold meats, cheeses, gourmet preserves, turrón and Christmas sweets— across Spain and the entire European Union. You can check destinations, rates and conditions in our Shipping rates and conditions section.
