Visiting NZ - Bringing Baby Formula and Pouches

SaberX on 08/08/2023 - 20:49

Hi there. Just wondering if any families have visited new Zealand and gone through customs where they've inspected and given green or red lights on bringing baby products in?

We had a baby travelling with a group and to avoid braving the winter cold we've planned ahead and raided woolies for several baby food pouches. They range from fruit based to protein and things like lamb , chicken roast mixed etc. You know… The typical baby pouch blends. Also need to bring in a tin of unopened (sealed) baby formula.

I know you can supposedly bring on board >100ml of water for making formula and baby powder and pouches within reason? But keen on knowing from families who've made the Aus to NZ trek if we're going to just end up having to throw these in the confiscated trash? Ideally arriving with all the food sorted would make the trip so much easier than trying to find stuff.

Note also a fair bit of the pouches are the Only Organic brand - so they're made in new Zealand anyway? Although not sure if fruit and meat based blends they disregard that. Heard they're quite strict like Aus customs?

Travel

Comments

    • SaberX on 08/08/2023 - 21:05

      Ive already googled and stumbled on that. If you can find me baby formula or pouches as I couldn't with all the drop downs?

      • foxmulder on 08/08/2023 - 22:31

        Here

        It's under Dairy - infant formula, restriction: do not contain fruit and weight limit of 2kg if not NZ made. Checkout the rest there.

        • jv on 08/08/2023 - 23:29

          Interesting

          I can bring in 20kg of boiled eggs into NZ.

        • SaberX on 09/08/2023 - 00:55

          Legend. I couldn't find it earlier. 2 kg is something I can work with. Unfortunately Bellamy's seems to be Aussie !

          Given your success any chance you're able to hunt down baby food pouches? Given the "no fresh fruit' in the baby food side I'm assuming that includes fruit that's blended into baby food : mashed or pureed etc. But be good to confirm

          • foxmulder on 09/08/2023 - 12:54

            @SaberX: Baby food pouches - I guess this is not the yogurt one right? For example: Chicken Vegetables & Rice, Sweet Potato Carrot & Zucchini, etc.

            I think it should be one under Meals and processed plant products.

            Specifically this one: If any plant products contain meat it must also be commercially manufactured and packaged, in its original unopened packaging, does not require refrigeration, and the packaging clearly state the amount of meat is less than 5% of the product's weight.

            Some of the baby food pouches with meat I check in Woolworths site it has the handy % in ingredient.

            I know you can get away with things with custom - like some comment here, but I personally will either follow the rules or not bring any food at all and buy locally there.

            • SaberX on 09/08/2023 - 17:47

              @foxmulder: Same. I'd rather follow the rules than hope and pray for leniency. Your right. Most of the pouches have a % of meat. And they're sealed and not cold. Most of the blends are non yoghurt. I have seen some fruit and brekkie style ones with yoghurt. Others are meat based. Some examples:

              More dinner pouches

              Pumpkin, potato & beef (9%)
              Chicken Bolognese (5%)
              Sweet potato, lamb(6%) and couscous

              More brekky and lunch :
              Banana , berries and yoghurt brekkie
              Coconut, banana and acai
              Apple, blueberry, blackberry and oats
              Carrots, red lentils and cheddar

              • foxmulder on 09/08/2023 - 17:50

                @SaberX: Yah note the % of meat that above 5% - you may not be able to bring that.

                Good luck with the custom.

                • SaberX on 09/08/2023 - 18:24

                  @foxmulder: Yeah I'm assuming they're like Australia. It's yay or nay. Once told they're not going to rule on the side of common sense as it'd pretty black and white. I might haveto send all that have 5% or less meat (I wonder if that's per meat ingredient or in total) in the first flight as we fly off the next day, and see what gets through haha.

  • Ughhh on 08/08/2023 - 20:59

    I highly doubt you'll have an issue. I went OS with food Pouches, powder and water in the bag.

    • SaberX on 08/08/2023 - 21:06

      It's mainly because Aus and NZ are so strict on our biosecurity that alot of these things are second thought overseas… With all the blended fruit and meat and other organics in the baby pouches and milk being a sensitive thing… Really wanted to find out if it was ok or not from people who'd gone through and actually show customs. Even Aus rejects sealed products made in Aus and brought back to Australia that are taboo food related ingredients… So triple checking haha.

      • Ughhh on 09/08/2023 - 08:05
        +1

        I've brought milk powder, baby Pouches and water in and out of Aust. If you're bringing a baby with you, you should be fine. They're essentials for babies, your kids not the first to fly. Customs didn't even ask me to show. Be reasonable in the amount you bring.

        • SaberX on 09/08/2023 - 17:42

          Note not worried about the in and out of Aus. In fact carry on says you can bring a reasonable quantity. It's more going in to new Zealand. A 10 day trip for example means at least 20 pouches if you include lunch and dinner. So it may seem a fair bit for a customs officer - it'd obviously have to go into check in luggage. It wouldn't be the one or two pouches in the carry on for immediate consumption.

  • pharkurnell on 09/08/2023 - 12:09
    +1

    Why not buy them when you get here to stop any issues of powder in pouches? thats going to wave flags…

    • SaberX on 09/08/2023 - 17:36

      It's not powder in pouches. We'll be bringing brand new formula tins sealed to hopefully avoid that issue.

      The baby food is in pouches. It's just easier coming prepared. As anyone with babies can attest to life just is so much easier not having to drag them looking for a shop on arrival after an overnighter. Wouldn't be a second thought when everyone was just couples and solo travellers unfortunately.

  • OMGJL on 09/08/2023 - 12:56

    You can pretty much buy all your usual items in NZ anyway, why bother bring so much in luggage?

    • SaberX on 09/08/2023 - 17:38

      It's just easier for parents to have everything they need ready to go : not just milk and food pouches but the brands you know they already consume. I mean I'm sure it's sold all over NZ but after a red eye flight and arriving into town it's just one less complication running around with luggage trying to find a supermarket stocking that brand , unhappy baby in hand haha.

  • Cave Fire on 09/08/2023 - 13:50

    Preplanning is a good idea. Pain to go finding supermarkets etc. Know it sounds basic, but maybe look at the arrival cards and check everything with food? Especially if you are confused. Good idea to check everyone in the group as well.

    • SaberX on 09/08/2023 - 17:41

      Agreed! We aren't actually at the airport yet. So no arrival card in hand more planning ahead for shortly. I know most cards cover food as a declaration. That's why I wanted to pre plan if people had their baby food pouches confiscated or if they were waved through by customs. If customs have seen it and waved them through then we're pretty comfortable packing enough for the whole trip.

  • impoze on 09/08/2023 - 14:13

    we have had no issue going through customs,

    we had prefilled baby bottles with water, and a tin of formula in our carry on.

    • SaberX on 09/08/2023 - 17:40

      Reading the online chatter on board carry on is fine with reasonable quantities of formula and water for a baby so we'll bring a flask of water above 100ml .

      It's more the heavier stuff when we arrive : two tins of sealed baby formula which per above customs link seem fine.

      It seems the only thing we haven't heard anyone successfully go through customs checking is the baby food pouches itself. Given their meat and vegetable and fruit throughout the assorted blends this makes me the most uncertain. Ironically it's a NZ brand bought here in woolies haha.

  • djones145 on 09/08/2023 - 19:37

    countdown is woolies in nz
    https://www.countdown.co.nz/shop/browse/baby-child/baby-food…

    they sell puches and forumula
    find one close to your hotel or where u staying

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