Don't Get Hot And Cross Sending Buns And Chocolate Abroad This Easter

19th March 2024

Thinking of sending traditional British Easter treats to friends and family overseas? The international delivery expert ParcelHero shares its eggspert tips for making sure they arrive safely.

The deadline for sending gifts overseas in time for Easter Sunday is rapidly approaching, cautions the international delivery expert ParcelHero. Even though couriers and postal workers will still deliver parcels on Good Friday in countries such as the USA (where it's not a Federal Holiday).

ParcelHero recommends people don't leave it later than Tuesday, 26 March for a 2-3 day express international delivery. In fact, the international parcel comparison site advises people to send their Easter gifts even earlier to save themselves money.

There are also a number of rules and guides to follow when sending Easter treats abroad. The last thing anyone needs is for shipments to be delayed, returned or even destroyed at Customs because they have fallen foul of couriers' regulations or broken national laws.

ParcelHero's Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T., says: ‘Whether it's chocolate eggs, hot cross buns or Simnel cake, if you are thinking of sending a British treat overseas this Easter, there are some basic rules to watch out for, as well as some common-sense packing guidelines.

‘There are two sets of rules to keep in mind when shipping abroad. Firstly, individual countries’ own Customs regulations and, secondly, each courier’s own rules about what they prohibit from being sent with them. ParcelHero’s own prohibited items page covers not only the items that we won’t ship ourselves, but it also includes all the major couriers’ individual prohibited items lists. You may find that one courier will accept an item that others refuse. So study the list carefully!

‘Meanwhile, here’s a general guide to some favourite Easter treats that you may have trouble sending abroad by courier:

‘Store-bought foods must be non-perishable. Many couriers require a best before date over six months away. That means some items, such as hot cross buns, may not qualify. Whichever courier you choose, make sure they permit the shipping of the particular Easter foods you are sending.

Items must be in the original manufacturers’ packaging and unopened.

The food label must list all the ingredients.

The best before date must be displayed on the packaging.

‘There are other, sometimes unexpected, restrictions on Easter treats you need to be aware of. For example, if you are sending chocolate to the USA, a Kinder Surprise Egg with a little toy inside might seem an obvious choice. However, this is likely to get stopped at Customs - the USA doesn’t allow any food that has non-edible components.

‘If you want to send home-baked items, such as a traditional Simnel cake, the bad news is no international courier will handle these foods because it’s impossible to determine when they may go off. Imagine the rotting result of any delivery stuck at Customs for too long!

‘ParcelHero’s advice is that, if you know anyone visiting your friends and family overseas this Easter, they are allowed to take your homemade perishable food with them through Customs. Failing that, you can always send the recipe so your friends and family can enjoy your cake every Easter!

‘After receiving smashed chocolate eggs from his Nan, my son will sadly confirm that Easter eggs sent by courier or traditional mail services - even within the UK - are unlikely to arrive in one piece unless they are packed with extreme care. We advise that you wrap all items individually, in bubble wrap or other packing materials. Leave at least 2 inches (5cm) on all sides of your items, to be filled with packing material such as polystyrene "peanuts" or chips. Suspend the items in your packing material. Pack tightly, so that the goods do not move when the parcel is shaken.

‘Even then, no courier will guarantee the completely intact arrival of a fragile chocolate egg, so you might want to think about sending an Easter present instead of fragile or perishable foods. Remember, if you are sending a gift to the USA that is worth less than $100, be sure to mark it "Gift" in the Customs description and include a description of the item. That’s because there’s no Customs duty to pay on gifts worth up to $100 (around £79) arriving in the US from the UK.

‘However, if the item you want to send is worth more than $100, you can still avoid making your friends or family pay duties on the item. That’s because, from 2016, the US increased its de minimis limit (the amount it won’t charge duties on) from $200 to $800 (around £629) for low-value commercial goods sent by a retailer. That means retail goods valued at $800 or less can enter the US duty-free. This threshold depends on the total value of the products, including shipping fees.

‘One way to legally take advantage of this is to buy the item online and have it sent directly by the seller to your friends and family in the US, rather than send a parcel to the USA valued at over $100 yourself. https://www.parcelhero.com/en-gb/international-courier-services/usa-parcel-delivery

‘For ParcelHero’s expert advice on UK-US shipping, including useful frequently asked questions (FAQs), help for exports and prohibited items details, see: https://www.parcelhero.com/en-gb/international-courier-services/usa-parcel-delivery