3 Things You Can’t Put in Balikbayan Boxes

Every year, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) are known to send out a number of Balikbayan boxes for their families and friends back home. Balikbayan boxes are care packages typically containing a motley of items we coin “pasalubong” and can range from clothing, beauty and hygiene products, canned goods, gadgets, and even letters
and cash.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, there are over 2 million OFWs which means thousands upon thousands of Balikbayan boxes are sent out per year. Delivered by sea or air, Balikbayan boxes run through inspections by the Bureau of Customs (BoC) for regulation and security purposes. There are certain measures set in place in order to regulate what goes in. Failure to abide by these rules would spell delays,
penalties, repercussions, and other inconveniences.

To avoid criminal liability and to get your gifts to your loved ones sooner, it’s pertinent to know what’s allowed and what isn’t. Here are three items that are prohibited to pack in your favorite Balikbayan boxes, extracted from the new Customs Administrative Order.

Adulterated or misbranded food products

Food products and goods that are contaminated by the addition of inferior substances or ingredients are strictly prohibited. Misbranded products are also banned thus it’s important to purchase food and canned goods from reputable companies and supermarkets.

Items in precious metals or alloys, but without indication of fineness

Packing products made of gold, silver, bronze, or other precious metals or alloys, albeit in part or whole, is totally okay and within legal bounds – just don’t forget to check the stamp, brand, or mark; they’re supposed to indicate the actual fineness of quality of the metals or alloys.

With this, carefully check the watches, accessories, and jewelry before you send them out for importation.

Written or printed goods that threaten the state and its people

This is a blanket statement but generally any and all goods containing text that advocate for or incite harm, unlawfulness, treason, rebellion, and other similar acts against the government or any Philippine resident, fetus included, are all banned.

With this, be careful with your letters or the books you send out. Make sure they don’t contain anything that implicitly or explicitly threatens the Philippine state and its people.

Apart from goods, there are also tons of paperwork to fill up in order to ship out just one single Balikbayan box. If you want less hassle on your part you can tap customs brokers who know the ins-and-outs of the import and export industry from evaluation, classification, valuation, taxation, and more.

Sea King Customs Brokerage and Logistics is home to an experienced and committed team of custom brokers seeking the best available options for their clients. Sea King ensures the safe and timely arrival of goods while complying with government regulations and audit processes.