What you can carry across the border

A carrier crosses the border with other people’s belongings and is answerable for them to customs. Below are the key rules for our routes as of November 2026. Rules change, so check official customs websites before each trip.

Prohibited in every country

• Weapons, their parts and ammunition, explosives, fireworks, pepper sprays.
• Narcotic and psychotropic substances, including medicines containing them without a prescription and documents.
• Poisons, toxic and radioactive substances.
• Counterfeit branded goods and pirated copies.
• Endangered animals and plants and products made from them (fur, bone, leather) without a CITES permit.
• Cultural property, antiques and decorations without an export permit.
• Pornographic material and material promoting violence or hatred.

From Ukraine and Moldova into the EU: Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, Czechia and others

• Meat and dairy products are banned entirely: sausage, lard, canned meat, cheese, cottage cheese, milk — even in factory packaging.
• Honey, eggs and other animal products — up to 2 kg; fish — up to 20 kg.
• Infant food and medical foods — up to 2 kg in factory packaging that needs no refrigeration.
• Plants, seedlings, seeds and cut flowers — only with a phytosanitary certificate. Fruit and vegetables — small amounts for personal use.
• Cigarettes: into Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Croatia and Greece by land, and into Romania and Estonia by any transport, no more than 40 cigarettes (2 packs) per person.
• Alcohol per person aged 17+: 1 L of spirits over 22% or 2 L of weaker drinks, plus 4 L of still wine and 16 L of beer.
• Other goods duty-free — up to €300 per person when travelling by land (€430 by air).
• Cash of €10,000 or more must be declared.

Into Ukraine

• Duty-free within the per-person allowance by value and weight. Above it, 10% duty and 20% VAT are charged on the excess. Current allowances: customs.gov.ua.
• No declaration needed for up to 5 L of alcohol, of which no more than 2 L of spirits; up to 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 250 g of tobacco.
• Cash of €10,000 or more must be declared.
• Batches of identical new items are treated as goods for sale, not personal belongings, and need commercial clearance.

Out of Ukraine

• Cultural property and antiques — only with an export permit.
• Medicines — amounts for personal treatment; potent medicines with a prescription.
• Cash of €10,000 or more must be declared.
• Additional restrictions may apply under martial law — check customs.gov.ua before travelling.

Into Great Britain

• Since April 2025 you may not bring meat (beef, pork, lamb, goat) or dairy products from EU countries for personal use — even packaged or from duty free.
• Small amounts of infant milk and medical foods are allowed, as are chocolate, bread, biscuits and pasta.

Into Moldova

• Duty-free — goods worth up to €300 per person by land and €430 by air.

Within the EU

• Goods for personal use move freely.
• Large amounts of cigarettes or alcohol (from 800 cigarettes or 10 L of spirits) may be treated as goods for sale and become subject to duty.

Key points for carriers

• Someone else’s parcel is not your personal luggage. Customs may ask what is inside and treat the contents as goods.
• Duty-free allowances are per person: several parcels together may exceed your limit, and then you pay the duty.
• Always inspect the contents at handover and compare them with the description and estimated value. If in doubt, refuse.
• Don’t accept sealed boxes the sender won’t let you open.

Official sources

• State Customs Service of Ukraine
• Your Europe — bringing goods into the EU from outside
• European Commission — products of animal origin
• GOV.UK — bringing food into Great Britain
• Customs Service of Moldova

This summary is based on public sources and is not legal advice. The sender and the carrier are responsible for complying with customs rules.