Author Name:Tiffany Lee – Marketing Analyst at FreightAmigo

FreightAmigo’s customer service team sometimes receives inquiries from customers in Hong Kong on how to send festival food overseas. Especially in recent years, many relatives and friends have immigrated overseas, and many people also hope to enjoy festive food and celebrate the festive season with their relatives and friends overseas. However, it turns out that many countries or regions (Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Canada, etc.) also have strict entry restrictions on receiving or sending festival food. Knowing more about the entry restrictions can help you process of sending festival food become smoother.

✨Please Pay Close Attention to the 2023 Sticky-rice Cake Discount✨

Entry Restrictions of Mooncakes from Various Places

All countries prohibited the sending of snowy mooncakes and ice cream mooncakes.

UK
  • Mooncakes containing meat, egg yolk, and milk yolk are not allowed to be sent (*lotus paste mooncakes can be sent)
  • Depending on the product, the recipient may require an import permit
  • When declaring, it is recommended to list the net weight of the mooncakes and ensure that the packaging has an English ingredient list and the name and address of the manufacturer in English
Japan
  • Mooncakes containing meat ingredients cannot be sent, and there are no special restrictions on egg yolks
  • The weight limit for each delivery is less than 10kg
  • Mooncakes containing milk, cheese, and unprocessed whey protein ingredients are not allowed to be sent
  • If the weight exceeds 10kg, an import permit is required
Korea
  • Food products containing meat or nuts are not allowed
  • The weight limit for each delivery is less than 0.5kg
  • Each delivery is limited to a value of less than $100
  • The shelf life of mooncakes needs to be more than 1 month
  • Recipients in Korea need to obtain a Personal Customs Certification Code (PCC) in advance to pick up the shipment
  • Customs has the opportunity to conduct random checks, which may affect the speed of package delivery
Taiwan
  • Mooncakes containing meat cannot be sent (*lotus paste mooncakes can be sent)
  • The weight limit for each delivery is less than 6kg
  • Each shipment is limited to a value of less than $1,000
  • Prohibition of importing mooncakes originating in China
  • Recipient and sender information must be a private address
USA
  • Mooncakes containing meat or egg yolk are not allowed to be sent (*lotus paste mooncakes can be sent)
  • When importing mooncakes, you need to apply to the Food and Drug Administration for Prior Notice F7 (*sending in the name of an individual can be exempted) (mooncakes originating from China, Macau, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, and Cambodia cannot be imported. U.S)
  • Each delivery is limited to a value of less than $100
Canada
  • Roughly the same as the United States (because the courier will first transit in the United States and then arrange the courier to Canada)
  • Mooncakes containing meat and egg yolk are not allowed to be sent (*lotus paste mooncakes can be sent)
  • The sender and recipient addresses must be private addresses
  • All imported mooncakes need to apply for an entrance certificate
Singapore
  • Mooncakes must not contain meat, nuts, or honey
  • The weight limit for each delivery is less than 5kg
  • Each delivery is limited to a value below SGD 100
Thailand
  • Mooncakes containing meat ingredients cannot be sent
  • Each delivery is limited to 6 pieces or less
  • Each delivery is limited to a value of less than $40
  • The sender and recipient addresses must be private addresses
  • Entry permit required
Australia
  • Mooncakes containing meat, egg yolk, dried fruit, grapefruit, taro, etc. are prohibited from being sent
  • Mooncakes with pure lotus paste filling are acceptable for delivery
  • Recipient and sender address must fill in private address
  • Need to indicate as a holiday gift when sending
New Zealand
  • Mooncakes containing egg yolk and egg sugar are not allowed to be sent
  • Other mooncakes must apply for a population certificate before delivery
  • Recipient and sender address must fill in private address

Entry Restrictions  of Sticky-rice Cakes from Various Places

Generally, international express delivery will not accept shipments that need to be refrigerated, so avoid sending sticky-rice cake with meat/perishable fillings that need to be refrigerated.

UK
  • Food containing eggs (e.g. salted eggs) cannot be sent
  • The recipient needs to apply for an import permit
  • The invoice needs to clearly describe the name of the food and the reason for the entry
Japan
  • The weight limit for each delivery is less than 10kg. If it exceeds 10kg, a customs clearance agent is required to handle customs clearance
  • The recipient’s full name is required on Air Waybill and invoice
  • You need to apply for an import permit from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan
Korea
  • Customs has the opportunity to test imported food, and customs clearance time will be delayed
  • The reason for the import should be stated on the invoice
  • The Air Waybill and the invoice need to list the cargo number (HS Code)
USA
  • Food containing eggs (e.g. salted eggs) cannot be sent
  • Ingredients need to be listed on the invoice
  • It is necessary to apply for a Prior Notice Number from the US Food and Drug Administration (if it is marked “individual to an individual food item for non-commercial purpose”, it can be exempted)
Canada
  • The weight limit for each delivery is less than 10kg
  • Because the package needs to go through the United States and then to Canada, it is recommended to follow the import restrictions of the United States
Singapore
  • All foods containing meat must apply for an import permit
  • If the total value of the package exceeds SGD400, a Unique Entity Number (UEN) is required
Thailand
  • Prohibition of importing any food containing beef ingredients
  • The recipient needs to apply for an import license from the Food and Drug Administration of Thailand
Australia
  • All sticky-rice cake containing egg and meat ingredients cannot be sent
New Zealand
  • All sticky-rice cake containing egg and meat ingredients cannot be sent

Entry Restrictions  of Sending Rice Cakes/ Carrot Cakes from Various Places

Note that any processed foods containing meat and eggs, or shipments that require refrigeration cannot be mailed. And the customer needs to list the name and ingredients of the food before sending it.

US
  • Food containing meat, egg yolk, and milk yolk cannot be sent
  • Depending on the food, the recipient may require an import permit
  • When declaring, it is recommended to list the net weight of the food and ensure that the packaging has an English ingredient list and the name and address of the manufacturer in English
Japan
  • Food containing meat ingredients cannot be sent
  • The weight limit for each delivery is less than 10kg
  • Foods containing milk, cheese, and unprocessed whey protein ingredients are not allowed to be sent
  • If the weight exceeds 10kg, an import permit is required
Korea
  • Food products containing meat or nuts are not allowed
  • The weight limit for each delivery is less than 0.5kg
  • Each delivery is limited to a value of less than $100
  • Food shelf life needs to be more than 1 month
  • Recipients in Korea need to obtain a Personal Customs Certification Code (PCC) in advance to pick up the shipment
  • Customs has the opportunity to conduct random checks, which may affect the speed of package delivery
Taiwan
  • Food containing meat cannot be sent
  • The weight limit for each delivery is less than 6kg
  • Each shipment is limited to a value of less than $1,000
  • Recipient and sender information must be a private address
USA
  • Food containing meat or egg yolk is prohibited)
  • When importing mooncakes, you need to apply to the Food and Drug Administration for Prior Notice F7 (*sending in the name of an individual can be exempted) (foods originating from China, Macau, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, and Cambodia cannot be imported. U.S)
  • Each delivery is limited to a value of less than $100
Canada
  • Roughly the same as the United States (because the courier will first transit in the United States and then arrange the courier to Canada)
  • Food containing meat and egg yolk cannot be sent
  • The sender and recipient addresses must be private addresses
Singapore
  • Food must not contain meat, nuts, or honey
  • The weight limit for each delivery is less than 5kg
  • Each delivery is limited to a value below SGD 100
Thailand
  • Food containing meat ingredients cannot be sent
  • Each delivery is limited to a value of less than $40
  • The sender and recipient addresses must be private addresses
Australia
  • It is forbidden to send food containing meat, egg yolk, dried fruit, grapefruit, taro, etc.
  • Recipient and sender address must fill in private address
  • Need to indicate as a holiday gift when sending
New Zealand
  • It is forbidden to send food containing egg yolk and egg sugar
  • Recipient and sender address must fill in private address

Entry Restrictions of Tangyuan from Various Places

Generally, international express delivery will not accept shipments that need to be refrigerated, and Tangyuan are frozen food, so they cannot be sent.

 

*Please refer to the latest guidelines of local customs for restrictions and specifications on sending festival food.

Using the FreightAmigo platform to send festive food can save a lot of shipping time, allowing you to celebrate the festive season with overseas relatives and friends.

更多物流資訊:

【Logistic 101】8 popular reasons for shipping delays analysis and preventions
【Logistics101】How to Calculate Shipping Time
A Complete Guide to Send Mooncakes from Hong Kong to Overseas

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If you have any inquiries on logistics/supply chain, feel free to contact FreightAmigo now:
Chat with us online OR
Phone / WhatsApp: +852 27467839

 

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