Can I bring these foods from the US to the Netherlands? And do I need to declare it?
Firstly, I am so confused by this whole process. When I visited The Netherlands a year ago, I didn't bring anything with me but on the way back I brought alcohol and cheese but never declared it and I didn't have a problem.
That being said, this time I am traveling from New York to Amsterdam in a few weeks. I want to take some indian spices with me. I don't need them in my carry on, I'd like to check them in. Firstly, are there any restrictions on this? I already have the spices and the containers have been opened, would I need to put them in a specific kind of container? Additionally, do I need to declare these items on the customs form to the Netherlands?
What about things like fish sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce, indian chutneys? Can I still pack it even though the package has been opened? Will I need to put it in a special container and do I need to declare these items to customs?
And last thing: Can I bring sugar on a checked luggage and do I have to declare it? And again, does it matter if the package has been opened already?
Best Answer
Dutch Customs has a web portal in English with a description of what is and isn't allowed to be brought in by travelers arriving from outside of the EU here with the short recommendation:
What cannot be imported?
Not all products can simply be brought in. Counterfeit articles, for example, or €10,000 or more, food, and animals and plants.
Followed by some more specific regulations and exemptions.
Cheese is clear cut and falls under the section of "Animal products and foodstuff" and is only allowed with a health certificate (which is probably not worth the effort to obtain) :
Do not import any animal products into the Netherlands from outside the EU. And also do not order them, for example, through the internet. In the EU strict requirements apply to the import of animal products and food. Examples: cheese, milk and milk products, eggs, meat, fresh or processed fishing products, skins, game trophies. Do you nevertheless still want to import animal products and food into the EU? Then you almost always need a health certificate.
The fruit and vegetable category which provides and exemption for "small amounts" for personal use by the traveler.
Sometimes you do not need a phytosanitary certificate and you may import your product without a problem. This is the case if the product:
- does not pose a serious risk for spreading harmful organisms
- when it is taken by travellers themselves as luggage for personal use
...
Have these conditions been observed? If this is the case, you do not need a permit for:
- at most 5 kilos of vegetables or fruit
...
When the individual animal / fruit / vegetable component in food is sufficiently processed and not recognisable as such anymore (for instance the milk in a chocolate bar) food is sometimes allowed. Typical examples of allowed foods are: pastries and cookies, sweets and chocolate.
Spices are allowed when they are
- dried
- don't contain a protected plant species
- don't contain an illegal substance/drug
(source: the Dutch Customs app, no other online source)
I don't know of any requirements (other than for infants milk) for original and unopened packaging.
Please note that something such as oyster sauce and a chutney, if allowed, is considered a liquid and not allowed in your carry-on luggage when in a container larger than 100 ml.
Also consider that The Netherlands, like many affluent countries import food and spices from all over the world and although specific brands may not be available, or hard to source, most if not all supermarkets will sell some variety of fish, oyster and soy sauce and certainly sugar...
Pictures about "Can I bring these foods from the US to the Netherlands? And do I need to declare it?"
Can you bring food into the Netherlands?
Taking food and drink into the NetherlandsYou cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. There are some exceptions for medical reasons, for example certain amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food, or pet food required for medical reasons.What Cannot be brought into Netherlands?
Protected animal and plant species. Animal products and foodstuffs. Plants, flowers, fruit and vegetables (phytosanitary products) Weapons, ammunition and dummy weapons and explosives.What can you bring into Netherlands?
You are allowed to bring in duty free: products you purchased on your trip outside of the EU; if the total value is \u20ac430 or less. 1 litre of spirits, whisky for example, or 2 litres of wine or 16 litres of beer. 200 cigarettes or 250 gram hand-rolling tobacco or 50 cigars.Can I bring cheese to the Netherlands?
You may bring animal products such as meat or dairy products from the EU to the Netherlands for your own use.10 Things Not to Do in Netherlands
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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