Taking biltong to Hong Kong..

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mdross88

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Hi everyone,

I am travelling to Hong Kong in two weeks and whilst there I'm staying with some old university mates who are now teaching there. They are Saffas and I want to take them a thank-you package for their hospitality. I figured some good SA wine and a couple of big sticks of proper wet biltong. I just wanted to find out if this is legal? I wouldn't put it into my hand luggage and I was thinking I'd just put the sticks together, vacuum seal them then keep them in my main luggage (I'll put the wine in there as well). As a side, we are going in transit though Doha. I'm not sure if this would make any difference? Our bags do not get returned to us there so I don't think we'd need to try and work it through customs there again.

Appreciate any insight!
 
mdross88 said:
Hi everyone,

I am travelling to Hong Kong in two weeks and whilst there I'm staying with some old university mates who are now teaching there. They are Saffas and I want to take them a thank-you package for their hospitality. I figured some good SA wine and a couple of big sticks of proper wet biltong. I just wanted to find out if this is legal? I wouldn't put it into my hand luggage and I was thinking I'd just put the sticks together, vacuum seal them then keep them in my main luggage (I'll put the wine in there as well). As a side, we are going in transit though Doha. I'm not sure if this would make any difference? Our bags do not get returned to us there so I don't think we'd need to try and work it through customs there again.

Appreciate any insight!
Click to expand...

Good luck on your anal cavity search goals of October 2014.

No really, check with HK customs themselves.
 
Wine bottles will never survive in main luggage. Perhaps if the wine is stored in cartons, it will be OK.

Traveling with meat is very dodgy at best. There is a chance that it contains bacteria. I highly doubt that HK will allow this through.

In all honesty, my suggestion is to reconsider what gifts you want to bring. Find something other than food & drink.
 
Last edited:
Syzygy78 said:
Wine bottles will never survive in main luggage. Perhaps if the wine is stored in cartons, it will be OK.

Traveling with meat is very dodgy at best. There is a chance that it contains bacteria. I highly doubt that HK will allow this through.

In all honesty, my suggestion is to reconsider what gifts you want to bring. Find something other than food & drink.
Click to expand...

I've travelled many times with wine bottles and no issue, if you pack them in the middle of soft clothes and wrapped in bubble wrap, there isn't any problem !
 
Thanks for all replies. Seems it is a grey area, so I've sent an email to the HK customs. Rather safe than sorry. Reckon they may be wining and dining on Hong Kong airport duty-free's finest instead.
 
Electric said:
If it is sealed correctly and declared then you actually can.
Click to expand...

I can't find for HK...

In Europe, it isn't without a veterinary certificate. HK has typically regulations close to UK on these matters so I would take it as forbidden.

For Germany:
"If meat, milk and products manufactured from them (such as cheese or sausage, including canned goods) are imported privately, these products must meet the same veterinary requirements as commercially imported consignments. This means that travellers who are carrying such goods are only allowed to enter Germany at certain entry points where a veterinary inspector is on hand. In addition, the products must be accompanied by official health certificates from the country of origin."

The only products issued from animals authorised in EU are honey, snails or powdered milk...

For UK:

"From EU countries: You can bring any fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy or other animal products (eg fish, eggs and honey) into the UK if you’re travelling from a country within the EU.

From non-EU countries the following items are banned:

all meat and meat products
all milk and dairy products"
potatoes
 
I have traveled back from Europe (cannot comment on Asia) with Sausages, smoked cheese, tinned food and plenty other "no-no" stuff.

As long as its in the main luggage, packed well and not drugs, you can almost get anything through.

Don't even try taking it as hand-luggage. I have packed wine bottles quite a few times and never had an issue, just pack it well.
 
I've taken biltong to HK before, but it was sealed packs, not open packs from a butcher.. No issues in HK, they didn't open any bags so I was ok.. Only when I landed back in JHB and had 1 pack left, customs was walking around with the small sniffer dogs and made me open my bag.. I took out the biltong and showed them it was from South Africa so they let me keep it.. Luckily it had a "made in SA" details printed on packaging.
 
mdross88 said:
Hi everyone,

I am travelling to Hong Kong in two weeks and whilst there I'm staying with some old university mates who are now teaching there. They are Saffas and I want to take them a thank-you package for their hospitality. I figured some good SA wine and a couple of big sticks of proper wet biltong. I just wanted to find out if this is legal? I wouldn't put it into my hand luggage and I was thinking I'd just put the sticks together, vacuum seal them then keep them in my main luggage (I'll put the wine in there as well). As a side, we are going in transit though Doha. I'm not sure if this would make any difference? Our bags do not get returned to us there so I don't think we'd need to try and work it through customs there again.

Appreciate any insight!
Click to expand...
Maybe bring them a biltog maker - I've seen them recently at Pnp and they're not expensive or bulky.

If you're bringing meat vacuum sealing won't stop the dogs from picking it up in your bag so make sure you declare it. Otherwise you could be looking at an expensive fine.
 
bwana said:
Maybe bring them a biltog maker - I've seen them recently at Pnp and they're not expensive or bulky.

If you're bringing meat vacuum sealing won't stop the dogs from picking it up in your bag so make sure you declare it. Otherwise you could be looking at an expensive fine.
Click to expand...

That would be like coming to a party with a bag full of lemons and saying all you need is Tequila..
 
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