Vienna Travel Forum

A strange question I know, but one I need answered.

What, if any, restrictions are there in bringing preserved goods into Vienna.

A friend is in need of home-pickled Capers whose taste cannot be matched by commercial items.

Will Customs stop their importation or would they be let in under certain circumstances?

The rest is water and salt Ernst.

They'll have to go in your hold baggage because of the liquid, so wrap it well.

Can't see any problems with pickled capers, personally.

Cool J.

I only care to avoid them being impounded and me nabbed.
I might remove them from the liquid for the flight and put them in plastic bags.
It is the pickling process that makes the taste.
Once effected, the liquid only keeps them moist.

Not too keen in turning up at the VT meet smelling of vinegar or salt-water.

Hmmmmmm.

Think I'd put them in my hold baggage anyway.

Several plastic bags, then wrap in towels/clothes.

Worked ok with wine/honey for me, lots of times.

It will be a lot easier to explain/convince anyone who asks what they are if they are still pickled, I think. But I have no personal experience of transporting pickled capers within the EU.........

One solution would be to vacuum pack the capers, if you have access to that sort of equipment. Actually, if you put them in a strong plastic bag, and suck the air out with a straw and then securely seal the bag (try just using a cool iron to make the seal), that would do. Have done similar in the past (not for capers) and although it is a little fiddley, it works just fine. The plastic needs to be reasonably thick i.e. of the thickness used when you buy commerical vacuum packed products.

An excellent idea Hh.

I think I know someone who can help.

I am thinking that I might stash them in the Hold-luggage.
I am sure there is a way to declare them.

They only go as far as Vienna so its only a 2 hour flight.

I don't think you actually need to declare them as you are travelling within the EU. They'd be ok coming into the UK, as far as I can tell from the customs website, but I can't find the relevant Austrian customs info. Which is frustrating.

Hence the question.

I have spent hours trying to get information.
I have sifted trough websites till the cows came home but I am still in the dark.

One can always fall on the excuse that there was no information given, but peace-of-mind dictates otherwise.

People bring preserved goods into Austria all the time. I doubt there are any restrictions as long as the amounts are reasonable. However, you cannot keep them in the hand luggage due to security restrictions. In fact, you will be asked to throw them in a bin before you go through the security check. Hence, the only real risk is that the suitcase gets lost and your friend will have to live without his capers.

I am convinced.
Thank you Verliebtinwien.
It shall be plastic bags in the hold-luggage.

I shall declare them on entry and whatever happens I would have tried my best.

Thank you.

I assume you are coming from one EU country to Austria. If so, then unless you make a conscious detour to the "something to declare" channel, you won't have to declare them. I honestly don't think that pickled capers is (are?) a declarable item. We have brought olives (vacuum-packed and in those packs with liquid)from Italy and Greece into the UK and indeed, brought olives from both those countries into The Netherlands and it has never occurred to me to delcare them. Nor has there ever been anything to suggest that we should declare them. I'd stick them in my hold baggage and let it go at that.

Your experience gives me a comfortable feel Hh.

I am rested enough not to expect problems now.

I trust my honey experiences will also sooth yr fevered brow (and no, they have never leaked/broken, nor has the wine/vodka/etc I've brought back).

Am sure there is absolutely no need to declare that you are carrying capers. Just walk through the EU channel wih your head held high, knowing that you are bringing pleasure to a friend........

You are a Sweetie J.

I shall make my decision on whether I declare capers within the hollowed halls of Schwechat.
After all I would rather lose Capers then my sleep.
But indeed, your advice and the advice of others has caused me to be relaxed on the whole situation.

I will cater for possible leakage and sequester them to double and triple sealed bags.

I have little choice but to walk with head held high.
At 5 foot 5 and a half inch one needs all the stretch in their body to be seen :o)

Tell me about it......I'm 5 foot 1 (I think.....).

But you don't get diamonds as big as bricks.

And nowhere as sparkly :o)

Nice enough but nowhere as nice as the cakes below Krems Monastry.
Even a Saher Torte leaves me cold.

If you feel like reading a little, my "Wien: Kaffee und Kuchen" might interest you.

Vienna and Saltzburg are favorites but so many other places in your beautiful country has me back as often as I can.

I miss it you know!