I’m considering this my contribution to world peace. Every country has its list of banned goods, and while the items - and the reasons - do seem strange to those outside of particular cultures and economies, they’ve got their reasons, and their eco-systems, and their ways of paving roads (at least, in the well-run non warlord countries.)
So, in an effort to make my life and the lives of potential customers easier, I am creating this list of countries where perfume, soap and cosmetic imports are banned. Out of all things to have an international incident over, soap is one of the more ridiculous choices, after all.
Banned from Import
Taiwan
- Extracts, essences, and concentrates of tea
- Sugar, molasses, saccharine, and other sweetening substances
Jordan
- Essences and oils for use in making adulterated or imitated beverages.
Iran
- Sugar
- Brown sugar
Israel
- Spices exceeding 1 kg
Italy
- Nutmeg
- Vanilla
- Sea salt
- Rock salt
- Saffron
Perfumery goods of all kinds (except soap)
Jamaica
- Citrus fruits and plants and parts thereof
- Cocoa
- Coffee
- Condensed milk
- Cornmeal
- Edible oils
- Honey and beeswax
- Sugar
North Korea
All merchandise is prohibited.
South Korea
- Salt
Lebanon
- Essences, essential oils, and products derived therefrom for the use in the manufacture of imitated beverages, ices, and pastries.
Namibia
- Honey
Nepal
- Cardamon
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
Norway
These materials are not banned, but are restricted, meaning that certification needs to be obtained both from the US and from Norway:
- Cosmetics (perfumes, cosmetics, and sanitary products containing alcohol) must be approved by the Technical Alcohol committee - Restricted
Paraguay
- Soaps
Peru
- Perfume products or soaps
Phillipines
- Coffee in any form
Zimbabwe
- Honey
Russia/Russian Federation
- Honey, pollen, wax, and honeycombs
San Marino
- Nutmeg
- Vanilla
- Sea salt
- Rock salt
- Saffron
Perfumery goods of all kinds (except soap)
South Africa
- Honey
Swaziland
- Honey and preparations of honey including “royal jelly,” preserves sweetened with honey
Syria
- Salt
- Soap, except shaving soap
Trinidad/Tobago
- Honey
Turkmenistan
- Eggs, honey, pollen, wax, honeycomb
Venezuela
- Coffee, coffee extracts, and similar preparations containing coffee
Libya
- Tea
- Salt
Ecuador
- Unrefined Salt
Indonesia
- Cocoa leaves, dried, undried, or powdered
Denmark
- Dried or powdered milk
Sri Lanka
- Coffee products
Bangladesh
- Coffee plants, coffee seeds and coffee beans
- Hemp
