EDUCATION
7 minute, 30 seconds read
Essential Takeaways
The customs officials in each destination country impose their own unique restrictions and regulations. These protect people and places from terrorism, disease, counterfeit or dangerous products, criminal activity, and threats to native flora and fauna.
Honey is generally considered a liquid for air travel. It is therefore subject to restrictions such as the 100ml rule for hand luggage. Most countries allow you to take higher quantities in your checked bags, allowing you to take your New Zealand Honey Co. jars with you.
Naturally, the regulations differ between countries and are updated to reflect the current level of risk. It’s best to check with your travel agent or aircraft carrier before travelling to ensure that your honey is not confiscated.
Disclaimer: The information supplied here has been sourced from official government websites where possible. It is accurate at the time of writing, but regulations change, and it should not be used in place of your own research and checks before travel. Make sure you check the specific information relevant to your journey before you travel with potentially restricted items.
There are a few reasons why you might be wondering whether you can take honey on a plane: It’s something resembling a liquid and it’s an animal-derived product.
Any seasoned traveller will recognise these as potential restrictions.
So are they? Can you take honey on a plane? If so, what restrictions might mean your honey could be confiscated? That’s what we’ll discuss here.
In this guide to travelling with honey on aeroplanes:
Why Foods Like Honey Are Restricted On Planes
Customs regulations are there to protect us. They help countries control what is flowing in and out, particularly where there might be safety or security concerns.
For example, most countries around the world impose a limit on the amount of liquid someone can carry onto a flight. This is typically 100ml per item, and all liquid items must fit into a single carrier bag for processing.
At first, all liquids were banned, with restrictions replacing them a few months later. These limits might be lifted in the future with the introduction of new technology like 3D hand luggage scanners.
When it comes to food products, security concerns still exist, but they are typically related to biological risks.
Invasive pests and diseases can be carried in fresh produce, which poses a real threat to economies and ecosystems. When it comes to apiculture, these risks include Paenibacillus larvae (causing American foulbrood disease in bees), Nosema fungi that devastate bees digestive systems, and parasites like Tropilaelaps mites that can destroy entire colonies if introduced to new regions.
As you might expect, biosecurity laws vary between countries as their needs differ. For example, Australia and New Zealand have some of the strictest biosecurity laws to keep their unique flora and fauna safe.
Honey is both a natural, animal-derived food product and liquid-looking. So, it might meet the criteria for restricted items in some countries.
Is honey considered a liquid for air travel?
Yes. Customs in most countries consider honey a food product and a liquid. Where they have restrictions on liquids in hand luggage, this will apply to honey.
Can You Take Honey on a Plane?
Disclaimer: This information is up to date at the time of writing. However, regulations are constantly changing, so make sure to check the official websites of the countries you’re visiting before travelling. Please see below for links to these websites.
It appears that honey is generally safe to travel with to most countries, when it’s in reasonable quantities, sealed, and meant for personal consumption. So, as long as you’re not importing honey commercially (which involves more stringent and context-specific regulations), you should be able to take it on the plane.
Let’s explore some of the regulations and most commonly asked questions about travelling with honey. For a quick overview of the regulations by country, check out the table below - or keep reading for more details.
Please note: where government-provided information is limited, we have provided the general consensus from forums and well-respected sites. It is important that you check with your aircraft carrier before travelling to ensure you have accurate information.
| Country | Carry-on allowance | Checked baggage | Notes |
| United States | Yes (if 3.04oz/100ml or less) | Yes | |
| United Kingdom | Yes (if 3.04oz/100ml or less) | Yes (up to 2kg) | |
| Europe | Yes (if 3.04oz/100ml or less) | Yes (up to 2kg) | |
| Singapore | Yes (if 3.04oz/100ml or less) | Yes | For personal consumption only |
| Middle East | Yes (if 3.04oz/100ml or less) | Yes | Check the official websites of each country for more information |
| Australia | Yes (if 3.04oz/100ml or less) | Yes | Check the official website for the latest information Western Australia may impose additional restrictions, so check with your aircraft carrier. |
| New Zealand | Yes (if 3.04oz/100ml or less), subject to criteria | Yes (up to 2kg), subject to criteria | Criteria:
|
| China | Yes (if 3.04oz/100ml or less) | Yes | For personal consumption only. |
| Hong Kong | Yes (if 3.04oz/100ml or less) | Yes | |
| Thailand | Yes (if 3.04oz/100ml or less) | Yes |
Can you take honey on an international flight?
Yes, the customs departments of most countries allow you to travel internationally with honey. They do, however, impose certain restrictions based on whether you bring it in your hand or checked baggage, and in some cases, where you are travelling from. Some countries may also require you to certify the type of honey.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the honey restrictions in different locations.
Can you bring honey into the US?
According to the Transport Security Administration site for the US, you can bring honey on the plane under the following conditions:
-
Carry-on bags: Yes (if 3.04oz/100ml or less)
-
Checked bags: Yes
What you need to know about importing honey into the UK
The UK imposes some restrictions on food based on where you’re bringing it from. This is not the case for honey, however, which is only subject to the following limits:
-
Carry-on bags: Yes (if 3.04oz/100ml or less)
-
Checked bags: Yes (up to 2kg)
Can you bring honey into the EU?
Most EU countries have similar restrictions to the UK when it comes to flying with honey:
-
Carry-on bags: Yes (if 3.04oz/100ml or less)
-
Checked bags: Yes (up to 2kg)
If you are travelling from the Faroe Islands or Greenland to the EU, you can take up to 10kg of honey in your checked luggage.
Can you bring honey to Singapore?
Honey is not expressly named in Singapore’s list of food and food products which are permitted by customs². However, the list indicates that most foods are allowed within reasonable quantities for personal consumption (around 5kg in checked baggage).
See the Singapore government’s page for more information.
Can you fly with honey into Hong Kong?
Yes, if you are taking honey for personal consumption on a flight to Hong Kong, then you are unlikely to be inspected by customs.
This is subject to a “reasonable quantity” like many other countries, and Hong Kong’s official customs website advises to contact their Food and Environmental Hygiene Department before travelling if you’re unsure.
-
Carry-on bags: Yes (when in a sealed container and 100ml or less).
-
Checked bags: Yes (maximum limits not specified, check with your carrier).
Can you travel with honey to Thailand?
Honey is counted as a liquid sweetener by the Kingdom of Thailand and can be brought into the country with the following restrictions:
-
Carry-on bags: Unclear - it seems likely that the same liquid allowances will apply to taking honey on planes to Thailand as other countries.
-
Checked bags: Yes (less than 5kg or 5l)
In 2018, Thai authorities updated the categorisation to honey and bee products as “cooked food”, but this doesn’t appear to have impacted the allowances provided above. Read more about this here.
Make sure to check with your aircraft carrier before flying.
Can you take honey on the plane to China?
Honey is not specifically prohibited for passengers entering China. However, some raw foods and animal products are limited.
If you carry honey that is sealed, unopened, and in your checked luggage, then you’re unlikely to have it confiscated. It may be safest to declare your honey if you’re unsure.
If you want to carry sealed and unopened honey in your hand luggage, make sure you comply with the 100ml liquid rule.
Can you fly with honey to the Middle East?
Yes, most Middle Eastern countries impose similar restrictions as the EU, US and UK for honey:
-
Carry-on bags: Yes (if 3.04oz/100ml or less)
-
Checked bags: Yes
The government websites of these countries generally advise travellers to check with them directly for up-to-date protocol.
Can you take honey into Australia?
Yes, most states and territories in Australia allow you to bring honey, but you must declare it. Some sources claim that 10kg is the limit for checked bags, but this is not clear on the official websites.
Western Australia has some of the most stringent biosecurity regulations to protect its native flora and fauna from pests. If you are travelling to Western Australia, you will likely need to take sealed honey and declare it. Ask your aircraft carrier for the most up to date advice.
Check out the Australian Border Force page for more information.
Can you fly with honey to New Zealand?
Honey is a high biosecurity risk for New Zealand. You can only take honey into New Zealand if it meets the following criteria:
-
It was made and packaged in New Zealand (like our Manuka honey).
-
It is in its original, unopened packaging.
-
It has a quarantine certificate.
-
You must declare the item, and it will be inspected.
-
It is subject to a 2kg limit.
Find out more about what you need to travel with honey to New Zealand here.
Which countries don’t allow honey through customs?
At the time of writing, it appears that most countries allow you to travel with honey under certain circumstances. You might be limited by quantity and how you carry it, whether in your carry-on or checked luggage.
How to Take Honey on a Plane
What’s the best way to travel with your honey? Let’s see.
Is honey allowed in hand luggage?
In most cases, you are allowed to carry up to 3.04oz/100ml of honey in your hand luggage. Make sure it is properly packaged and easy to find for airport security.
Can you bring honeycomb in hand or checked luggage?
Bringing honeycomb on a plane can be more complicated than carrying liquid honey, particularly due to international customs regulations concerning organic products. While honey in sealed jars is often permitted, honeycomb may be subject to stricter scrutiny because it contains beeswax and potentially other hive materials, which can carry pests or diseases. While it's possible to travel with honeycomb, the associated risks and regulations make it essential to verify and comply with the specific requirements of your destination country to ensure a smooth travel experience.
Is honey allowed in checked luggage?
In most cases, you are permitted to carry around 2-5kg of honey in your baggage, depending on the customs limits of your destination.
How to make sure you get your honey through customs
If you cover all the bases below, you’re more likely to get your honey through customs:
-
Travel with the permitted quantity of honey or less.
-
Pack it into your checked luggage where possible.
-
If it’s in your carry-on, make sure it’s less than 100ml and fits into a clear bag with your other liquids.
-
Travel with a new jar which has not been opened or tampered with.
-
Declare your honey when asked and make it available for inspection quickly and easily.
Travel-Safe Manuka Honey from New Zealand Honey Co.
Spending time overseas shouldn’t mean that you have to leave your favourite wellness superfood behind.
Just be sure to check whether you can carry your New Zealand Honey Co. jar in your hand luggage or if you need to pack it in your checked suitcase.
Our jars and squeezy bottles range from 4.4 -17.6oz which exceeds the limit for hand luggage for most destinations.
If you're looking for something that’s hand luggage-friendly, our Manuka Soothing Drops with lemon are a convenient on-the-go option. Individually wrapped, they come in packs of 16 or 40 - perfect for popping into your bag before a flight.
Stock up before you take off below.
Shop the range.
Sources:
¹ Why liquids were banned and restricted to 100ml on flights, Chronicle Live.
² List of food and food products allowed, SFA Gov.
Your wellness journey starts with a spoonful a day.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Receive our latest releases, offers, guides and more.