As we get closer to Christmas and people will be posting gifts to loved ones in the US but An Post has issued a warning to those who are planning to send food abroad
An Post has issued a warning to those sending food abroad to loved ones in the US this Christmas.
New rules have come into place regarding sending parcels to the US.
Prohibited items immediately include some of the things people most commonly send to loved ones over in America – tea bags, crisps, and chocolate..
As well as this, gifts exceeding €85 will be subject to tax. These taxes will have to be paid by the receiving customer before the package can be delivered.
Speaking on RTE’s Drivetime, Julie Gill, Marketing Director at An Post, explained exactly what can and cannot be sent.
She said: “As regards chocolate, small amounts of chocolate is okay once it’s sealed so in its wrapper,
“But just small amounts of chocolate, you couldn’t be sending boxes and boxes of chocolate because then the customs in the US might think that was for onward commercial sales, so small amounts of chocolate is fine.
“Crisps are a little bit tricky, so it’s all around the flavour of the crisp, so salt and vinegar, ready salted absolutely fine, but smoky bacon, because it could be derived from meat or meat flavouring, is not allowed, so don’t send smoky bacon crisps.”
Cheese and onion could be prohibited, as Julie added: “Sheese and onion is different because it could have milk or not, depending on the one that you’re buying.”
“It’s the US customs rules, and their Department of Agriculture don’t want any products that are coming in derived from meat or meat substances that haven’t been made in the US,” she explained.
Because of this, she advised people not to send any homemade or unbranded, unsealed goods as they may be seized by the customs office. People are advised to stick to branded and sealed goods if they are sending edible items to the US.
An Post has confirmed standard post letters and large envelopes must be sent off by December 10 in order to arrive in the USA for Christmas.
Standard Post Parcels must be sent off by December 4.
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