Bringing Honey from Mauritius to France: The Complete Guide
You're heading back from Mauritius with a few jars of artisanal honey in your luggage. But before you clear customs, one question comes to mind: is it actually allowed? How much can you carry? And how do you make sure those precious jars arrive safely in France?
This guide covers everything.
1. Why choose Ruchers de l'Est honey?
You can find honey in any grocery store in France. So why go to the trouble of bringing Ruchers de l'Est honey back in your luggage?
Here's the honest answer.
A terroir impossible to find in France
France doesn't produce eucalyptus honey — the tree exists there, but not in sufficient quantities. The eucalyptus honey sold in France comes mainly from Morocco, Spain or Italy. Ours comes from Mauritius — a completely different terroir, climate and flora.
Raw and artisanal — the opposite of industrial
Most honey sold in French supermarkets is blended, heat-treated, and often sourced from multiple countries. Ours is harvested in small batches, raw, from a single operation located in eastern Mauritius. With fewer than 10 hives in Flacq, every harvest is limited — when a jar sells out, you wait for the next season. That traceability is something industrial honey simply cannot offer.
2. It's legal — up to 2 kg
Yes, you can bring honey from Mauritius back to France. Honey is classified as an animal-origin product — like snails or fishery products. European regulation (EC No. 206/2009) includes an explicit tolerance for travellers: a maximum of 2 kg per person, for personal use only.
In practice, that's 4 to 8 jars depending on size — more than enough to treat yourself and share with loved ones.
3. Conditions to follow
To clear customs without any issues:
Original, hermetically sealed packaging (unopened)
Personal use only — not for resale
Maximum 2 kg per traveller
Keep the original label on every jar
In carry-on luggage: the 100 ml liquid rule applies — for jars of 250g or more, always use checked luggage
We offer a packing service designed specifically for luggage transport: protective film, shock-proof packaging, official label. Available at miel.mu.
4. Do you need to declare it?
Under 2 kg in clearly personal packaging? Use the green channel. If you have other items to declare or any doubt, take the red channel and declare everything. If you exceed the limit, goods can be seized and destroyed without compensation.
Sources: French Customs · EUR-Lex regulation EC 206/2009 · Service-Public.fr · Apiculture.net · ilemauricehotels.com
Customs regulations may change. Always verify with official sources before travelling.
