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when travelling through europe what are food regulations through customs

Travelling through Europe(uk,france,italy,spain,greece,austria,switzerland,Rhineland and Amsterdam )soon from Australia am I allowed to bring in coffee,tea,sugar sachets through customs.What about other snacks eg.2 minute noodles,chips,nuts and chocolates?

Posted by
12172 posts

I would expect it to vary from country to country somewhat but generally dry, packaged food won't be a problem.

Posted by
12040 posts

As long as they are all pre-packaged, they shouldn't be a problem. Fresh produce is the big no-no.

Posted by
411 posts

I understand that you can't take sausage out of Italy even if it's vacuum packed but that's the only food restriction I remember.

Posted by
495 posts

Do you mean bringing into the EU or moving these things between countries?

For personal use there are next to no restrictions moving food from one EU country to another.

There are strict rules about importing goods from outside the EU. These rules should be the same from member to member - here are the UK's.

Most of the restrictions are on fresh food and plant stuff so the stuff you listed probably won't be an issue but it won't hurt to check.

Posted by
12040 posts

"I understand that you can't take sausage out of Italy even if it's vacuum packed but that's the only food restriction I remember." This may not apply to Australia, but it definately is true for the US. You can't import any meat products, even dried, vacuum-sealed sausages.

Posted by
319 posts

The basic rule is no meat...that is the only one I've been nailed on going to the USA.

Posted by
8947 posts

You know Carmelina, you can buy all of thse things over here and will not have to schlepp it with your bags. Especially chocolate! It is the best over here. Coffee too is great, well, except in Belgium and France. I sure would not carry that stuff with me, as then you have more space for other things. Plus, it is nice and fun to go shopping here and try out the products from each country, even the chips and teas and noodles.

Posted by
345 posts

Buying vs. Packing: Well, I always travel with tea bags and sugar packets. Who wants to buy a whole box of each while traveling? If you only need one or two or three days worth of coffee, then it makes sense to pack your own. If you have a kitchen, then buy coffee there.

The key is bring what you need to eat on the plane, or what you need in such small quantities that it doesn't make sense to buy it at the grocery store. Everything else you should buy in Europe.