Coconuts

[Gazzy]

A strange question but a friend is returning to Ukraine and wants to take 4 coconuts as gifts. Apparently they're not available there. Does anyone know if this is even possible?

[Grand Barong]

Good Luck to them...

[Bluenose]

In general carrying fresh/unprocessed plant material is not a good idea

[Gazzy]

Yeah, I figured as much. Thanks.

[Grand Barong]

I'm guessing you would have to fly into somewhere like Poland & get the train into Ukraine, So import rules would need to be checked for the country of arrival first. I'm thinking coconut imports wouldn't be too high on Ukraine border securities priority list at the moment.

I'm still not sure if this is a serious question tbh...

[IraHayes]

He'd be better off taking some "pineapples"

[Gazzy]

I'm guessing you would have to fly into somewhere like Poland & get the train into Ukraine, So import rules would need to be checked for the country of arrival first. I'm thinking coconut imports wouldn't be too high on Ukraine border securities priority list at the moment.

I'm still not sure if this is a serious question tbh...

Yup, it's a real question. The lady in question is returning to Kiev as her contract has finished here. Innocently she wants to take some coconuts to her family as they're unavailable over there. Yeah I guess it's a train journey from Poland.

[ExPenhMan]

An option is to take 3 or 4 1-litre cartons of coco water. There'd be a lot of wastage in taking green coconuts, plus she'd need the axe skills. Just a thought . . .

[Captain Bonez]

I took a coconut back to England as a Christmas present for a laugh about 7 or 8 years ago. No problems and just used a saw to chop the top off and a drill to get inside

[Freightdog]

Each country has its own take on what constitutes restricted produce. A fact that catches out a great many travellers from Asia and Africa- the worst things I’ve seen are heads of things like crocodiles, pigs faces. I’m sure there’s worse.

If the stuff can even get on the plane in the first place, then each arrival and transit border would need to be considered.

An Aussie on arrival into oz recently got caught out by a sandwich- I don’t recall whether it was reported on here or if I read it elsewhere.

It’s pests, communicable diseases, morally limited stuff (Chinese and their delight in sucking on dead tiger dick, for instance).
Sometimes, it just needs some appropriate paperwork and declaration on arrival. Best to check with the authorities directly prior to departure. Appropriately packaged may make life complicated.