Travelling with honey

Taking a little taste of Scotland home?

When travelling with honey, there are two separate things to consider:

Airport security

  • Can you take honey onto the plane?
  • Can you bring honey into your destination country?
    •

Travelling with Honey

Honey is treated as a liquid by airport security, and the same rules apply to honeycomb.

At many airports, liquids must be in containers of 100ml or less, including honey, jams, sauces and other spreadable foods.

Edinburgh Airport currently allows liquids up to 2 litres thanks to its latest security scanners. However, if you have a connecting flight, your next airport may still apply the 100ml limit.

Travelling with our honey

  • 120g jars are generally suitable for hand luggage where the standard 100ml liquid rule applies.*
  • 400g/340ml and 1kg/720ml jars should usually be packed in checked luggage.

Our recommendation: Pack honey in your checked luggage whenever possible.

Before You Fly

✓ Check your destination country’s customs regulations.
✓ Check any connecting airports, as security rules may differ.
✓ Pack honey securely, ideally in checked luggage.
✓ If you’re unsure whether honey needs to be declared, declare it.
✓ Only carry quantities that clearly look like they’re for personal use or gifts.

Customs

Customs regulations vary from country to country. While many destinations allow commercially packaged honey for personal use or as a gift, others have stricter rules to protect local agriculture and bee populations.

Even if honey is permitted, you may still need to declare it on arrival. If you’re unsure, it’s always safest to declare it.

The destination guides below are intended as general guidance only. Customs regulations can change, and border officials always have the final decision.

In most cases, there isn’t a fixed limit on the number of jars you can carry for personal use. Instead, countries may place limits on the total weight or value of goods you’re bringing, and larger quantities may be questioned if they appear to be intended for resale.

Popular Destinations

🇺🇸 United States

🟢 Generally suitable for personal travel

  • Honey is generally allowed for personal use or gifts.
  • Declare food products if required on arrival.
  • Pack jars in checked luggage.

Official sources:
TSA: Travelling with honey
USDA: Coffee, tea, honey, nuts and spices
U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Prohibited and restricted items

🇨🇦 Canada

🟢 Suitable for personal travel

  • Honey is generally allowed for personal use.
  • Up to 20kg of honey may be permitted for personal use or gifts.
  • Declare food products if required on arrival.
  • Pack larger jars in checked luggage.

Official source:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Bringing food into Canada for personal use

🇪🇺 European Union

🟢 Suitable for personal travel

If you are travelling from the UK into the EU:

  • You may bring up to 2kg of honey per person for personal use.
  • This includes honey taken home as a gift.
  • As a guide, this is approximately five of our 400g jars.
  • Declare food products if required.
  • Pack jars larger than 100ml in checked luggage unless your airport allows larger liquids.

Official source:
Your Europe: Carrying meat, dairy and animal products

🇯🇵 Japan

🟢 Generally suitable for personal travel

  • Honey is generally suitable for personal use or gifts.
  • Carry a reasonable amount intended for personal use.
  • Small quantities are recommended (typically around 1–2kg).
  • Declare food products if required on arrival.
  • Pack jars in checked luggage.

Official sources:
Japan Animal Quarantine Service: Bringing animal products into Japan
Japan Animal Quarantine Service: Products for personal use (Japanese)

🇨🇳 Mainland China

🟢 Generally suitable for personal travel

  • Honey may generally be carried into mainland China for personal use or as a gift.
  • Customs allowances depend on your traveller status: visitors and non-Chinese residents have a different allowance from Chinese residents returning from abroad.
  • Allowances are based on the total value of goods and gifts you are carrying, not only honey.

Our advice:

  • Carry a reasonable quantity for personal use or gifts.
  • Declare food products if required on arrival.
  • Pack honey in checked luggage.

Source:
China Highlights: China customs guide

🇭🇰 Hong Kong

🟢 Generally suitable for personal travel

  • Hong Kong has separate customs rules from mainland China.
  • Commercially packaged honey is generally suitable for personal use or gifts.
  • Carry a reasonable quantity.
  • Avoid carrying large quantities that could appear to be for resale.
  • Declare if required by customs.
  • Pack jars larger than 100ml in checked luggage.

Official source:
Hong Kong Customs: Passenger clearance FAQs

Middle East (including UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman)

🟢 Generally suitable for personal travel

  • Many Middle Eastern countries allow commercially packaged honey for personal use or gifts.
  • Carry a reasonable quantity.
  • Ensure jars are labelled and commercially packaged.
  • Declare food products if required by the destination country.
  • Customs allowances may apply to the total value of goods you are carrying.
  • Pack honey in checked luggage.

Sources:
UAE: UAE Government: Clearing customs
Qatar: Hamad International Airport: Security and customs
Saudi Arabia: House of Saud: Saudi customs rules
Oman: Oman Customs: Traveller services

🇦🇺 Australia

🟠 We do not recommend travelling with our honey

  • Australia has very strict biosecurity rules for honey and bee products.
  • Honey may be inspected on arrival and entry is not guaranteed.

If you are travelling to Australia:

  • Check the latest requirements before purchasing honey as a travel gift.
  • Declare any food products as required on arrival.

Official source:
Australian Border Force: Can you bring it in?

🇳🇿 New Zealand

🔴 We do not recommend travelling with our honey

  • New Zealand has extremely strict biosecurity rules to protect its agriculture and bee populations.
  • Honey carried by travellers may be refused entry.

If you are travelling to New Zealand:

  • Check the latest requirements before travelling.
  • Declare food products as required.

Official source:
NZ Ministry for Primary Industries: How to declare items when arriving in NZ

Other Destinations

Rules vary widely around the world. This includes destinations in:

  • Asia
  • Africa
  • Latin America
  • The Caribbean
  • South America
  • Other regions

Some countries may require:

  • food declarations;
  • permits;
  • restrictions on honey and bee products.

A few examples:

🇿🇦 South Africa
Honey is classed as a controlled agricultural product and may require an import permit.

🇸🇬 Singapore
Small personal quantities of commercially packaged honey are generally suitable, but food import rules and allowances may apply.

🇰🇷 South Korea and other Asian destinations
Requirements vary, so please check before travelling.

Official Sources

This guide has been prepared using guidance from official airport, customs and government authorities, including:

  1. Edinburgh Airport
  2. UK Government
  3. European Commission
  4. U.S. Customs and Border Protection
  5. Canadian Food Inspection Agency
  6. Australian Department of Agriculture
  7. New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries

As regulations can change, we recommend checking the relevant authority before travelling.

Where to Find Us

📍245 Morningside, EH10 4QU
📍178 Easter Rd, EH7 5QQ
📍16 Rodney St, EH7 4EA

Disclaimer

Last reviewed: July 2026

This guide is intended as general travel advice only. Airport security procedures and customs regulations may change, and individual circumstances can vary. Local authorities always have the final decision.