Food delivery abroad

Shipping food products from Ukraine abroad is not just about packaging — it involves complex logistics and customs nuances. From homemade preserves to organic goods, each type of shipment has its own requirements for storage, documentation, and certification. In this article, we explain how to properly arrange the international shipment of food, what permits are needed, how to avoid customs delays — and how GlobalPost can help.

The cost of shipping food products from Ukraine abroad may vary depending on the selected service. We recommend checking the current delivery rates at this link.

What food products can be sent from Ukraine?

• Sweets: Including candies, chocolate, cookies, marmalade, marshmallows, jam, muffins, biscuits, and bars. These are especially suitable as holiday gifts.
• Light snacks: Such as dried bread rings, croutons, wafers, chewing gum, and lollipops.
• Beverages: Coffee, tea, cocoa, and chicory can be sent to countries where their import is allowed. This usually requires proper labeling and, in some cases, a phytosanitary permit from the recipient.
• Snacks and breakfast items: In factory packaging, up to 10 kg volumetric weight, you can send chips, snacks, popcorn, dry cereals, and muesli.
• Pasta and noodles.
• Canned foods: Note that there may be restrictions in certain countries depending on the content.
• Vegetable oils: Sunflower, olive oil, mayonnaise, sauces, ketchup, salt, and baking soda are allowed.
• Sauces and syrups: Ready-made condiments are also permitted.
• Drinks: Mineral water, juices, and other beverages are allowed, but there may be packaging restrictions (no more than 3 liters per parcel).
• Food supplements and baby food: Restrictions may apply depending on the product type and destination country.
• Other products: You can send almost any non-perishable food products, observing limits on weight, value, packaging, labeling, and required documentation.
• Product samples: You can send product samples from the manufacturer.
• Personal consumption: Food products up to 10 kg can be sent to an individual for personal use.

What food products cannot be sent from Ukraine abroad?

• Perishable goods: Including eggs, fish, poultry, meat, and milk, as well as most products made from them, including pet food.
• Unprocessed products: Raw seeds, berries, beans, grains, cereals, nuts, fruits, and other produce.
• Unprocessed fruits and vegetables: Including roots, root vegetables, mushrooms, greens, and dried fruits.
• Alcohol and tobacco: With rare exceptions in small quantities as samples.
• Alcohol-containing liquids: Prohibited in most countries.
• Live products: Live oysters, mollusks, snails, royal jelly, and propolis are generally prohibited in most countries.
• Bread and baked goods.
• Products without expiration dates: Products without a clearly indicated expiration date cannot be sent.

Important considerations when sending food abroad:

• Outside the EU, we accept parcels with: food, cosmetics, medicines, or with import permits such as FDA are Alert in the USA, or with full payment for return shipping. This return fee is refunded to the sender (payer) once the recipient clears customs and receives the parcel.
• Destination country restrictions: Many countries fully prohibit or restrict the import of food items in parcels. Examples include the USA and China.
• Restrictions for individuals and businesses: Some countries prohibit food import for individuals but allow it for legal entities, and vice versa.
• Local inspections and control: Often, importing food into a country requires local inspection, including veterinary and phytosanitary checks.
• Weight and product type limits: Some countries impose stricter limits on the weight and types of products allowed for import.
• Permits and certification: Exporting food to certain countries may require prior authorization and local certification.
• Recipient involvement: To receive food abroad, the recipient may need to appear at customs, provide documents, and pay applicable taxes.
• Parcel fate if recipient refuses: If the recipient refuses to participate in clearance or pay taxes, the parcel may be destroyed or returned at the sender’s expense.
• Decision of local customs inspector: The decision to release or detain a shipment is made by the customs officer in the destination country.
• Additional inspections and documents: The customs officer has the right to request additional documents and inspections to verify food shipments.

These aspects are critical for successful international food shipping, and complying with all requirements helps avoid delays and issues during delivery.

GlobalPost is a trusted carrier well known on international routes. We provide a guarantee for all shipments. With us — it’s reliable and cost-effective!

So how can you send food products abroad?

• Coordinate with us the possibility of shipment depending on the nature of the goods, batch size, packaging, and required documentation.
• Confirm with the recipient their actions regarding receiving the shipment in their country.
• Provide the packaged parcel, invoice, and recipient’s information.
• Pay for the delivery.

Exporting food products from Ukraine is not only about taste and quality but also about complying with the regulations of each specific country. Some products can be shipped without issues, while others require special permits or are outright prohibited. To avoid risks at customs and unwanted delays, it is important to check the import rules of the destination country in advance, properly package the parcel, and prepare the documentation.

The GlobalPost team will help you organize the shipment of food products — safely, legally, and quickly. If you have questions about a specific item — contact us, and we will suggest the best solution for your shipment.