Shipping dried game meat internationally

[Fishnhunt]

Hi all, long time no post, I hope everyone is doing well.  

Does anyone have experience shipping game meat out of the USA?

Its my understanding that game meat can be shipped domestically but I am needing to ship to europe.

This is dried sausage that I made using venison and pork, with Cure #2.  I shot it into casings 2 weeks ago and dried it and am wanting to get it en route soon while the cure is still active.

Any help would be appreciated.  

Thanks!

[lpcjon2]

I think Cabelas does it why cant you. Get a seal and save bag and pack it well with bubble wrap and have at it.Customs will probably need to know what it is.You can always check the US customs website.

[LoneWolf73]

I believe "processed" food is fine. Do not ship a basket of fruit however.

[kstout]

I've shipped venison jerky to my nephew in afghanistan several times without a problem.

[tecum-tha]

Forget it, american meat will be seized and destroyed. All imported meat into the EU must be officially inspected by a veterinarian. The receiver has to pay for that and it will not be cheap. If you write meat product on the custom form you've already lost. In the US you can not buy european meat, because of "mad cow disease" fear, in Europe US meat is banned because growing hormons can be used which are illegal in the EU.  Canned goods may be treated different, but just sealing in plastic is not enough. You need to check the local laws of the receiving country. So:EU regulations first, then the specific laws of the country.
It is not worth the hassle.

[Celtic Dragon]

As a brit, I can say don't bother. It will be impounded and destroyed. I can't even shoot an animal in france and bring it home.

Tecum-Tha, hit 1 aspect on the head, BSE (mad cow disease) is a fear that was abound in the early 90's and has links to CJD in humans so the USA banned imports certainly from the UK. We retaliated citing things like growth hormones.

Now to get into the EU it has to be a trusted source and is still subject to inspection.

If its flying straight into a military base things might be different if it can bypass customs.

[cacciatore]

It is a mess with all those Customs.I can't send food and wine to my friends in the US.

[Craig Schoneberg]

I send jerky to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan - but that goes through an APO address - still have to fill out the darned Customs forms.  Will be shipping 300 pounds of jerky to Iraq and Afghanistan tomorrow.  And another 800 pounds to follow.
Craig

[Blake Dustin Adams]

Fishnhunt where does it need to get to over here.  There a lot of men stationed over here in Germany.  I know we have received jerky products from the US without problem.  But then again we received it through APO.

So if it is to somebody in the military I wouldn't worry.  If it is not do you have any friends stationed over here near by where it needs to go.

[hunt it]

For the record Cabelas will not ship meat/food products out of USA nto even Canada. The APO option looks like the only option. Customs from any foreign country will seize meat products of any form.

[tecum-tha]

APO is a different story, since it is treated like "interior US mail", although you still have to fill out the customs form. You have to be aware, that after 9/11 the EU has tightened their safety as well, mainly requested by the US. There ar much more dogs used now and more X-rays. Every package that goes into Germany goes through an x-ray. Anything looking suspicious, it will be opened, checked, if illegal: seized or destroyed etc.

[Fishnhunt]

Thanks for the info everyone.

My friends in the service are currently stateside on b-billets so no help there.

The product is going to a buddy in Austria.
 
Blake - if you want some send me your addr, I've got a lot.

[JEFF B]

yes USA meat will be taken at the customs and Destroyed or the person receving it can post it Back at a rather high cost. it is because it is not packed in a commercial bag. if you just vaccumn pack it your self it will not reach the person you are sending it to. BUT if you buy commercial jerky and cut the Bottom open and empty it then fill it with your meat and re seal it they dont know but you did not hear that from me.