Just over a week ago, we woke up to the news that Australian authorities had revoked the visa of a Spanish tourist trying to enter the country with jamón. It sounds absurd, really. We might expect a visa to be revoked for attempting to cross a country’s border with weapons or drugs, but… jamón?
Alright. It wasn’t just jamón. This “criminal” was carrying an entire stash of Spanish products: two packages of sliced jamón, a chorizo, a lomo, and a piece of cheese—all properly vacuum-sealed. So, why was his visa revoked? Was he carrying some sort of biological weapon? Clearly, to Australian authorities—and many other countries—he was.
A while back, we shared tips on “How to Bring Jmaón to Another Country”, but given the striking nature of this news, we want to remind you of what to do if you can’t survive abroad without savoring such a prized delicacy.
Australia is No Exception
Since the last century, traveling around the world is no longer a privilege for a few (now it is for many). Flying across the globe seems as commonplace as going to work or hanging out with friends. But beware—our movements have consequences.
At first glance, no one seems to think that carrying food for personal consumption in a suitcase could harm anyone or anything, but it’s not that simple.
Diseases transferred from one area to another, where the local population (whether animals or humans) lacks proper defenses, have caused significant problems throughout history. And unfortunately, we don’t have to look too far back, as we’ve just emerged from the coronavirus pandemic and recently heard the news about avian flu spreading to a mink farm (yes, avian flu in mammals…).
It’s true that processed foods from the food industry, especially in countries like ours, adhere to strict sanitary regulations to ensure that such incidents don’t occur, but some countries don’t take chances with these matters.
As we mentioned, the case in Australia gained attention due to the fine imposed on the unfortunate young man, as well as the long journey to the antipodes that ended up being for nothing. But this was the result of either ignoring customs recommendations and restrictions or trying to slip past border authorities. If the young man had declared the food items he was carrying, they would probably have been confiscated, and he would still be enjoying the Australian summer with €2,124 in his pocket. But that’s not how it happened.
Many countries prohibit the entry of foods, especially those of animal origin. Diseases like African swine fever (ASF), foot-and-mouth disease (although this virus is inhibited by jamón curing), or avian flu (obviously, jamón is safe unless it’s duck jamón, ha!), can be transmitted through certain foods and wreak havoc on both the ecosystem and the livestock industry of the receiving country.
The U.S. and Canada are among the strictest countries when it comes to traveling with our beloved jamón. Even with permitted foods like canned fish or seafood and turrón, it’s advisable not to bring them along if you don’t want to spend your vacation being searched at the airport. So forget about taking jamón with you.
Peru, where up until now it was possible to bring packaged jamón, has recently implemented a measure banning the entry of pork products to keep the country free from African swine fever (ASF). On the other hand, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil allow the entry of jamón as long as it’s sliced or in small pieces, properly labeled, and not homemade. Mexico permits the entry of up to 5 kilograms if the jamón is in individual packages or part of a shoulder cut, but only if it comes from Canada, the U.S., France, Italy, or Spain.
However, despite what we’ve said in this article, if you’re traveling, contact the embassy of your destination country to verify the current regulations and avoid surprises upon arrival.
The EU “Is Different”
Food regulations are standardized across the European Union, so you won’t encounter any issues when traveling with jamón through any of the 27 member states. That said, be sure to vacuum-pack it, just in case. You also won’t face any problems transporting a little jamón to countries like Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino, and Switzerland, even though they aren’t part of the EU. But remember, just a little—don’t try to stock a shop with what’s in your suitcase. Additionally, be aware of the restrictions imposed by each airline if you plan to carry your jamón in hand luggage instead of checking it.
Our advice is that, even if you can’t live without jamón (like us), keep in mind that carrying a package of sliced jamón isn’t the same as packing your favorite T-shirt. Food products, especially those of animal origin, are subject to strict customs regulations, whether for personal consumption or export. If you check the rules and there’s no issue, don’t forget your jamón at home. But if there is, don’t worry—Spanish jamón is becoming more available worldwide, and the variety keeps growing. There’s plenty more to conquer…