Can I send food via parcel courier?  

What are the restrictions?  

You can only send food not is not classed as a perishable item. Food is classed as a perishable item if its shelf life is under 6 months. If the food item you are wanting to send has a shelf life of under 6 months you cannot send it via parcel courier. This includes store brought and homemade items.  

If the food item you are wanting to send via parcel courier has a shelf life of over 6 months, good news! You can send it via parcel courier, but additionally you need to follow these rules.  
 

Rule 1- Food must be present within its original packaging provided for by the manufacturer.  

Rule 2- This packaging must not be damaged, changed, or tampered with in any way.  

Can I send food internationally?  

Some countries have specific rules on what cannot be let into that country. These can be because of trademark and customs laws. An example of this is Kinder Eggs are banned in the USA. You must check the specific rules and regulations of the country you are sending too before sending your parcel.  

It is important to fill out your customs declaration accurately and clearly so it can be processed correctly. As well as this it is important to know that most international parcels being sent outside of the EU are liable for customs duty and tax.  

This may include your food parcel, but in some cases, there is no customs duty and tax. But we cannot guarantee this.  

The customs duty and tax is not included in the price of your parcel and is a separate charge that is sent to you later once the parcel has reached customs and is issued by the customs authority.  

To make sure this cost is as low as possible, you must be honest on your customs declaration. In our experience we have seen the most honest and well described parcels be charged far less that than parcels that were not accurately described.  

How to package food parcels  

Packaging your parcel correctly is essential to make sure the parcel arrives to its destination safely, on time, and without overcharges.  

Here are the Parcelpal recommended tips when packaging your parcel.  

-Make sure the packaging items you are using are suitable for the contents. Choose a strong, sturdy box that allows room for extra packaging materials such as foam chips or bubble wrap but not too big that the contents moves around too much or is restricting on the items.  

-Where necessary, use a staple gun or parcel tape to reinforce your box to make it stronger. This can be done on the corners and the seams.  

-We recommend wrapping all of the contents in bubble wrap to ensure it does not get damaged while in transit.  

-Do not wrap your parcel in gift wrap or wrapping paper. This will not be accepted by the courier. But you may use a gift bag on the inside.  

-Please note: If your parcel is subject to a customs inspection while in transit the customs team will need to clearly see the contents of the parcel once opened. So therefor do not be tempted to individually wrap the items with gift wrap.  

What if I’m still unsure?  

If you are unsure, do not worry! Our friendly customer care team is on hand to help you every step of the way. Just give us a call and a member of our team will be happy to help you.