Sending Food Overseas - Food for Thought
Have you got a taste for exotic foods this summer? Are your kids overseas missing the comfort of food only mum can make? Fastlane International highlights the regulations for sending food abroad.
Got a taste for the exotic this summer? Family overseas missing their favourite dish? Global courier Fastlane International says there are many foods you can safely send overseas – but you need to be aware of the rules and import regulations.
Says Fastlane International’s David Jinks MILT: ‘It’s not difficult to send many foods overseas; but you do need to be aware of regulations. Each country has its own food import regulations stating what cannot be imported there. On top of these country specific regulations there are also some general shipping rules that you must adhere to. But if you get these right, your hampers really shouldn’t be hampered. ’
Continues David: ‘The good news is that the vast majority of non-perishable foods can be sent to or from the UK by international courier. That includes most store-bought foods with a shelf life of more than six months from the date of shipment: including sweets; snacks like crisps and nuts; preserves such as honey, jam and peanut butter; canned foods such as your favourite baked beans and custard; pre-packaged herbs and spices, and – most importantly if you are like me - tea bags!’
David adds: ‘There are just a few things to keep in mind when sending these kinds of food to another country, or from overseas to the UK. All items must be in the original manufacturer’s original packaging, which must be securely sealed and not tampered with in any way; the label must list all the ingredients and finally ensure the ‘use by’ or ‘best before’ date is clearly displayed on the label.’
On top of courier’s rules, David says: ‘You should also remember that every country has their own import regulations, so it’s very important you check that your food items are allowed into the country prior to shipping. For example if your kid is yearning for their Kinder Egg fix, it is fine to send an egg to most countries; but not to the US where you might have a nasty Kinder Surprise when the egg is seized or destroyed because it contains a ‘"non-nutritive object embedded in it." Check the country’s pages on the Fastlane website and, most importantly, on each countries’ own customs pages. For example tinned meat or poultry products fall foul of individual countries’ rules, particularly if you are sending beyond the EU to countries such as the USA.’
Sadly, it is very difficult to send home-made foods overseas. ‘What happens if you want to send your loved ones their favourite cake you baked this morning?’ asks David. ‘Alas, homemade foods, such as home baked cakes and treats are not permitted to be sent by courier overseas. That includes everything homemade from biscuits to casseroles. Nor can you send food that could spoil or go off during transit, or isn’t fully sealed with a complete food label. You’re better off sending them the recipe!’
Finally David points out: ‘Items that need to be kept frozen or chilled in transit must be sent via a specialist courier that offers temperature controlled services, because normal transport vehicles do not provide a suitable environment for these items and the food will spoil during transit.’
To find out what’s on or off the menu when shipping items abroad by courier, check Fastlane’s prohibited items section: http://www.wedelivertheworld.co.uk/support/before-you-book/prohibited-items/
For more information please contact David Jinks, Head of PR, on david@flci.co.uk or by phone on 0208 7584962 (07772 055748 out of office hours)
Leading online courier Fastlane International ® strategically partners with the world's leading, logistics companies, including DHL, UPS and DPD to provide a flexible, cost-effective range of parcel delivery services to over 220 countries worldwide. Huge bulk purchasing power allows Fastlane® to offer highly competitive pricing with no compromise in service quality.
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