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I am arriving from Vietnam to Sweden in about one week. I would like to bring a small quantity of dried swallows nest with me to Sweden. I have read that importing swallows nest into USA is not allowed, but I can not find any explicit mention of swallows nest in regards to the EU (only about meat, dairy, and so on, and swallows nest is neither). Does anyone know the regulations regarding this item?

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    What are swallows nest? Here in Europe we may think something different. Note there are restriction on vegetables, wood, and other product which may carry insects and diseases.
    – Giacomo Catenazzi
    Commented Oct 12, 2023 at 15:29
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    It might not be explicitly mentioned. If you’re referring to nests made from bird saliva, it could be covered under regulations regarding animal/bird products in general. Try searching the generic term ‘bird’s nest’. Can you even legally export them from Vietnam?
    – Traveller
    Commented Oct 12, 2023 at 15:33
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    @GiacomoCatenazzi Swallows nest is basically dried bird saliva
    – Achi
    Commented Oct 12, 2023 at 15:44
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    The Official Journal of the European Union covers "animals, products of animal origin, germinal products, animal by-products and derived products, composite products, and hay and straw". These are all regulated.
    – Weather Vane
    Commented Oct 12, 2023 at 18:45
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    Work your way through that! It does mention Salanganes’ nests (“birds nests”).
    – Weather Vane
    Commented Oct 12, 2023 at 18:53

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It is at least for practical purposes, albeit with a small number of exceptions, not possible (at least not realistic) for private persons to import products of animal origin into the EU.

This question is about canned meat, but my answer to that question applies to all kinds of animal products:

Can I bring a few cans of meat into the EU? If so, how?

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    While you're legally correct, for all practical purposes there are no checks for animal products when entering the EU.
    – lambshaanxy
    Commented Oct 13, 2023 at 11:09
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    @lambshaanxy Of course there are. I have been subject to that myself and you only have to watch any of the many European offshoots of 'Border Security' to see that animal products (usually meat or cheese) is both found and confiscated at the EU border.
    – Tor-Einar Jarnbjo
    Commented Oct 13, 2023 at 11:13
  • Yes, there are random inspections, but that's very different from a country like Australia where every traveller has to go through biosecurity checks and sniffer dogs etc are frequently used. And since we're trading anecdotes, I've never, not once, had.my bags inspected when arriving in the EU by air; land borders are a different story.
    – lambshaanxy
    Commented Oct 13, 2023 at 11:44
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    @lambshaanxy Customs at most airports do random checks of your bags before you pick them up at the conveyor belt. If they don't find anything interesting, you will not notice that you have been inspected. Organic material in your luggage is easily spotted if your luggage is x-rayed.
    – Tor-Einar Jarnbjo
    Commented Oct 13, 2023 at 11:59
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    @lambshaanxy While you're not outright saying, 'go ahead and bring it', you're implying that it's okay to bring it even though it's against regulations.
    – mkennedy
    Commented Oct 13, 2023 at 12:34

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