# Food in your suitcase from abroad: what can the family bring?

Bringing food to Norway? Check rules for meat, cheese, homemade food, baby food and fruit, quantity limits, and when to use the red channel.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/mat-med-fra-utlandet
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-10-07T19:15:57.581+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-07T19:15:57.630447+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Check permission before calculating the allowance A duty-free allowance does not make prohibited food legal. The country the food comes from and its ingredients determine which rules you must follow.
- Weigh the goods and check their value From the EEA, ten kilograms covers certain meat products, cheese and animal feed together. You must also stay within the value limit for tax exemption.
- Clarify special rules before travelling Baby food, potatoes and goods from disease-affected areas need separate checks; use the red channel if you are unsure when passing customs.

Check both the country the food comes from and its ingredients before packing. Meat and dairy products from countries outside the EU/EEA are generally prohibited in ordinary travel luggage. A duty-free allowance or a low price does not make a prohibited food legal.

## What should you check before packing food?

**First check whether the food is permitted, then its quantity and value.** Mattilsynet, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, is responsible for rules protecting people, animals and plants against infection. Tolletaten, Norwegian Customs, checks goods at the border and handles customs duties and taxes.

This guide covers food for private use in your luggage when travelling to Norway. Food intended for resale follows the rules for commercial imports. Here, commercial means importing goods for sale to customers. See [Mattilsynet’s distinction between private and commercial imports](https://www.mattilsynet.no/import/import-av-mat/kommersiell-import-av-mat/plikter-for-importor-og-forste-mottaker-av-naeringsmidler).

Make a short list before buying food or receiving it from family:

1. Write down where each food comes from.
2. Check the ingredients, particularly meat, milk and other animal products.
3. Weigh the goods and keep receipts and packaging.
4. Check for any disease-related measures and plan your customs crossing.

## Can you bring meat and cheese from every country?

**No. The rules differ inside and outside the EU/EEA.** The EEA is the European Economic Area, covering the EU countries plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

From the EU/EEA, you can normally bring most foods for private use, subject to quantity limits and any special rules. Mattilsynet’s EU/EEA guidance also applies to Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Andorra and San Marino. The rest of the United Kingdom follows the rules for countries outside the EU/EEA. See [Mattilsynet’s EU/EEA overview](https://www.mattilsynet.no/import/import-av-mat/ta-med-mat-og-drikke/privat-import-av-mat-fra-eu-eos).

From countries outside this area, you generally cannot bring meat, meat products, milk or dairy products in ordinary luggage. Vacuum packing or heat treatment does not make the meat permitted. An EU-labelled package brought from a country outside the EU/EEA is not automatically permitted either. See [Tolletaten’s rules for meat and dairy products](https://www.toll.no/no/varer/mat/kjott_og_melkeprodukter_fra_land_utenfor_eos/).

The Faroe Islands, Greenland and Svalbard have specific exceptions. Mattilsynet states a limit of five kilograms of meat and dairy products from the Faroe Islands and Greenland, and five kilograms of game meat from Svalbard. Do not use the ordinary EEA allowance as the answer for these areas. See [the specific geographical rules](https://www.mattilsynet.no/import/import-av-mat/ta-med-mat-og-drikke/privat-import-av-mat-fra-faeroyene-gronland-og-svalbard).

## What about homemade food and mixed ingredients?

**Look at the ingredients, not just the dish’s name.** From countries outside the EU/EEA, ham sandwiches and meat pizzas, for example, fall under the meat ban. The same applies to pasta filled or mixed with meat.

There are exceptions for certain products, including chocolate, biscuits and some baked goods. They must be shelf-stable at room temperature or thoroughly cooked or fully heat-treated. They must also be labelled for consumption, meaning for eating, and properly packaged. This is not a general exception for all homemade dishes. See [Mattilsynet’s product list and conditions](https://www.mattilsynet.no/import/import-av-mat/ta-med-mat-og-drikke/privat-import-av-mat-utenfor-eu-eos).

| Food from countries outside the EU/EEA | What should you clarify? |
|---|---|
| Meat, cheese or a dish containing meat | The general ban applies; do not treat heat treatment as an exemption. |
| Chocolate or biscuits | Check that the product falls under an exception and meets its conditions. |
| Tea, coffee or spices without animal ingredients | Check the value limit and any special rules. |

Animal-derived means something comes from animals. Honey and eggs also have quantity rules. Fish and seafood must be assessed under the specific rules for the product and country. Clarify this with Mattilsynet before travelling if you want to bring them.

## What exceptions are there for baby food?

**Certain baby foods and medically necessary foods have a limited exception.** Mattilsynet states a combined limit of two kilograms of infant formula, baby food and special foods required for medical reasons, for personal consumption from countries outside the EU/EEA.

The product must not require refrigeration before opening. It must be prepackaged and a proprietary product, meaning a branded product. The packaging must be intact, except when the product is already in use. Infant formula and baby food from China are not covered by this exception.

The packaging and refrigeration requirements also appear in [the annex to the applicable regulations on Lovdata](https://lovdata.no/static/SF/32004r0745.pdf?timestamp=1788973222210). Lovdata publishes legislation and regulations. A homemade portion does not automatically become legal because it is intended for a child.

## What do the ten-kilogram allowance and value limit mean?

**Ten kilograms is a combined allowance for certain goods, not ten kilograms of each type.** When travelling from another EEA country, the allowance covers meat, meat products, cheese and animal feed together. Dog and cat food are exempt from this weight restriction. See [Tolletaten’s food allowance](https://www.toll.no/no/varer/mat/handle-kjot-ost).

For example, four kilograms of meat and six kilograms of cheese make ten kilograms in total. You must also check the food’s value together with other purchases covered by the value limit.

After at least 24 hours outside Norway, the value limit is 6,000 kroner. For shorter stays, it is 3,000 kroner, once within 24 hours. These limits follow [vareførselsforskriften § 4-1-11, the goods movement regulations](https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2022-10-27-1901/KAPITTEL_4). A single item costing more than the limit cannot be split between family members to avoid taxes.

Children must be at least 12 years old to have the ordinary duty-free exemption for foods other than chocolate and confectionery. Do not allocate meat and cheese to a young child to increase the family’s allowance.

If you want to bring more than the allowance, you must clarify declaration and taxes. Declaring means reporting the goods to Tolletaten. Paying taxes does not override Mattilsynet’s prohibitions. See [Tolletaten’s explanation of the value limit](https://www.toll.no/no/handle-i-utlandet/verdigrensa).

## Can you bring fruit, vegetables and potatoes?

**You can normally bring up to ten kilograms of fresh fruit, berries and vegetables, but potatoes have separate rules.** The goods must show no signs of plant disease or pests. For larger quantities, you must investigate phytosanitary certificate requirements. This is an official certificate confirming plant health. See [the rules for fresh fruit and vegetables](https://www.mattilsynet.no/import/import-og-innforsel-av-planter-med-mer/privat-import-av-frukt-bar-gronnsaker-og-poteter).

Raw potatoes for eating require a phytosanitary certificate; contact Mattilsynet beforehand. Seed potatoes, used for growing, are prohibited from import from all countries. Frozen or heat-treated potato products do not require this certificate. Other ingredients in the dish may still trigger separate import rules.

## Why must you check for disease outbreaks?

**Ordinary permissions may be restricted during serious disease outbreaks.** For animal products from affected areas, you may have to document their origin. A visible oval identification mark on shop-bought goods can show this.

Unstamped meat from areas under restrictions may be prohibited. This is particularly relevant if family gives you food bought at a market or from a private individual. Check [Mattilsynet’s current rules on disease-affected areas](https://www.mattilsynet.no/import/import-av-mat/ta-med-mat-og-drikke/matvarer-fra-omrader-med-utbrudd-av-smittsomme-dyresykdommer) before departure.

## When should you choose the red channel?

**Choose the red channel if you need to pay taxes, require special permission or are unsure.** The green channel requires the goods to be duty-free, within allowances and the value limit, and not to require special permission. Follow [Tolletaten’s guidance on red and green channels](https://www.toll.no/no/handle-i-utlandet/raud-gron-sone).

If your luggage is lost and arrives later, use the red channel and also declare the contents of that luggage. When travelling by bus, make sure the bus stops where goods can be declared.

Illegal animal products may be seized and destroyed. You may also be liable for costs or penalties for breaking the rules; see [the regulations on importing animal products](https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2006-01-31-103). Do not plan to pay a fine as a way to keep the food.

The rules were checked as of **7 October 2026**. If you are moving, there is a separate SamfunnPrep guide to [household goods and customs](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/flyttegods-toll-norge). Shipments have different tax rules, explained in [the guide to parcels from abroad](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/toll-moms-pakker-utlandet-norge). [The tools overview](https://samfunnprep.no/en/verktoy) brings together practical help in Norway.

## FAQ

### Can I bring cheese from outside the EU/EEA if it is vacuum-packed?

Generally not in ordinary travel luggage. Vacuum packing does not make a dairy product legal. Certain countries and areas have specific exceptions that must be checked.

### Is ten kilograms one allowance for meat and another for cheese?

No. When travelling from another EEA country, ten kilograms covers meat, meat products, cheese and animal feed together, except dog and cat food.

### Is homemade food legal because it has been cooked?

Not automatically. The ingredients and the country the food comes from determine the rules. Cooking is not a general exception for meat or dairy products from countries outside the EU/EEA.

### Can I bring a few raw potatoes without paperwork?

Raw potatoes for eating require a phytosanitary certificate even in small quantities. Contact Mattilsynet beforehand. Importing seed potatoes is prohibited from all countries.

### Can I use the green channel if I am unsure about the food?

No. Choose the red channel if you are unsure about the rules, need special permission or must pay taxes. Clarify whether the food is permitted before travelling.

## Sources

- [Ta med mat fra EU/EØS](https://www.mattilsynet.no/import/import-av-mat/ta-med-mat-og-drikke/privat-import-av-mat-fra-eu-eos)
- [Ta med mat fra land utenfor EU/EØS](https://www.mattilsynet.no/import/import-av-mat/ta-med-mat-og-drikke/privat-import-av-mat-utenfor-eu-eos)
- [Ta med mat fra Færøyene, Grønland og Svalbard](https://www.mattilsynet.no/import/import-av-mat/ta-med-mat-og-drikke/privat-import-av-mat-fra-faeroyene-gronland-og-svalbard)
- [Ta med frisk frukt, bær, grønnsaker, poteter og planter fra utlandet](https://www.mattilsynet.no/import/import-og-innforsel-av-planter-med-mer/privat-import-av-frukt-bar-gronnsaker-og-poteter)
- [Matvarer fra områder med utbrudd av smittsomme dyresykdommer](https://www.mattilsynet.no/import/import-av-mat/ta-med-mat-og-drikke/matvarer-fra-omrader-med-utbrudd-av-smittsomme-dyresykdommer)
- [Handle kjøt, mjølk, ost og andre matvarer](https://www.toll.no/no/varer/mat/handle-kjot-ost)
- [Kjøtt- og melkeprodukter fra land utenfor EØS](https://www.toll.no/no/varer/mat/kjott_og_melkeprodukter_fra_land_utenfor_eos/)
- [Verdigrensa](https://www.toll.no/no/handle-i-utlandet/verdigrensa)
- [Raud eller grøn sone](https://www.toll.no/no/handle-i-utlandet/raud-gron-sone)
- [Frukt, grønsaker, planter, blomar og frø](https://www.toll.no/no/varer/planter-og-fro/handle-i-utlandet)
- [Forskrift om inn- og utførsel av varer (vareførselsforskriften) - Kapittel 4. Tollprosedyrer ved innførsel](https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2022-10-27-1901/KAPITTEL_4)
- [Forskrift om planter og tiltak mot planteskadegjørere](https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2000-12-01-1333)
- [Plikter for importør og første mottaker av næringsmidler](https://www.mattilsynet.no/import/import-av-mat/kommersiell-import-av-mat/plikter-for-importor-og-forste-mottaker-av-naeringsmidler)
- [Forskrift om gjennomføring av forordning (EF) nr. 745/2004 om fastsettelse av tiltak med hensyn til import av produkter av animalsk opprinnelse beregnet på eget forbruk](https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2006-01-31-103)
- [Kommisjonsforordning (EF) nr.745/2004, EØS-tilpasset tekst og vedlegg](https://lovdata.no/static/SF/32004r0745.pdf?timestamp=1788973222210)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Food in your suitcase from abroad: what can the family bring?", SamfunnPrep, 2026-10-07T19:15:57.581+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/mat-med-fra-utlandet