Importing vegetables to Germany
 

Living in California, we have some awesome veggies that are difficult to get in Germany. Our artichokes are the size of softballs, sweet white corn grows in abundance, and so on.

Some of my family have never had these as fresh veggies, and I wanted to take a box on my next trip. We use to do this many years ago ... in fact, back in the 1970s, I remember my father hand-carrying a well-packaged turkey (and a case of corn on the cob, fresh cranberries, etc) so we could fix a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for my German family.

But that was then, and this is now. Can fresh fruits and veggies be imported for personal use? Or, are there restrictions, similar to importing food items into the US?

I did a Research on German, the English custom site (http://www1.zoll.de/english_version/...ood/index.html) is so so. It seems, that most vegetables aren`t a Problem. Excemptions are potatoes, mushrooms and vine. You can write an E-Mail ([email protected]) to custom, perhaps they answer your question

Hi,
if you don't bring meat or meat based products into the EU you should be fine, when it's for private use. There are some exceptions like mushrooms (-->chernobyl), caviar, potatoes and some more.

Thanks guys! Another ^ to FT!

I will write the Zoll and post their reply -- altho, as answered above, it should be fine.

You always have the chance to declare your goods on arrival (just take the red exit marked with "something to declare. The customs agent will take a look and decide if it is safe or not. Of course there is a slight risk that your food products will be confiscated but you don't have to worry about any legal problems.

Reply from the German Zoll:
However, both the German Embassy in Washington, DC and the German Consulate in San Francisco, CA have told me there is NO RESTRICTION on the import of vegetables for personal consumption.

Go figure!

I'll be in Germany and will ask next week.

I guess a civil servant has to be diplomatic when correcting the Embassy and the Consulate. :D A follow-up with the Zoll regarding conflicting information:
So, there you have it!

I Travel a lot to Germany and i never see any Guy from the Custom.
Only one a Time in Salzburg the Ask me where i am Coming from thats it.
http://www.br.de/themen/ratgeber/inh...?version=a132b

But beware in Germany there are many Fake Food available.
And food that is prohibited in the other Country!

Lol...my family is in Ham so often, several of the customs officials know us by sight. Last Dec, one of the guys even said "in the Fatherland, again?" So, the HAM airport, at which I arrive with my luggage, always is occupied by staff.

Besides...whether or not the officials are present...if it is illegal, I won't do it.

While it's probably more than a hassle than it's worth, don't listen to the Germans saying it won't be possible to get a phytosanitary certificate. Anyone with an APHIS account should be able to apply for a certificate.

I was thinking to buy from local growers at the farmers' market

You could still get a phytosanitary certificate. It doesn't have to be issued to the grower, just any exporter. That's not to say the time and monetary costs will be worth it, but it would be possible if they *really* wanted that produce.

When arriving in HAM last week, I asked the official at the Zoll. I have her name, badge number, etc documented. She said if for personal consumption, all veggies are allowed without certificates or papers; she said I can exit thru the "nothing to declare" channel. Meat is not allowed.

I'll bring next time, and if they stop me, I'll at least have her info.

You see: Ask 3 People, get 5 different answers;)

'Tis true. It's good to see that the German bureaucracy -- despite it's reputation as being bureaucratic -- is just as helplessly bureaucratic as the American bureaucracy!