A German-speaking nation, Austria is a land-locked country in central Europe. Bordering Germany, the picturesque region and has been an EU member since 1995.
Austria is extremely popular as a winter sports destination thanks in part to the Alps, but it is also known to tourists for its historic cities and beautiful scenery. It is considered a paradise for the arts, being responsible for bringing the world some of the most famous composers of all time, including Mozart and Haydn - and not to mention Maria von Trapp.
The capital of Vienna - or Wien to the locals - offers a cosmopolitan collection of traditional coffee shops, beautiful boutiques and incredible architecture, which explains why nearly a third of the country's population reside there. Due to the extremes of temperature seen from season to season - deliciously warm summers but particularly cold winters - many city inhabitants with the means will escape the summer heat to homes in the cooler surrounding hillsides. Other big cities in Austria include Linz, Salzberg and Innsbruck.
Excellent transport links make shipping and commerce with Austria simple. As part of the EU you won't have to fill out customs forms but, surprisingly for an EU country, Austria has an extensive list of prohibited articles that cannot be sent.
When it comes to food, the prohibitions list is pretty long, so if you are planning on sending edibles then double check first to ensure your items don't fall on the list. Generally you can't send meat, offal, fish, crustaceans or live insects to Austria - this is of course in addition to the usual restriction on mailing live animals!
Birds eggs are also a no-no and you should be wary of attempting to send products containing a high percentage of egg or dairy. When it comes to produce - whether fresh or in some cases even frozen - quite extensive prohibitions apply. These depend on the fruit or vegetable in question but include potatoes, carrots, tomatoes and fresh avocados.
Cumin and fennel seeds, cereal seeds including rye, barley and buckwheat, as well as sunflower seeds, poppy seeds, soya beans and seaweeds are all on the list of what not to send, so if you're thinking of sending muesli or health foods then be warned.
Animal fats such as lard or beeswax and animal-based oils will also be stopped, as will mineral waters and aerated waters, counting as one of the more surprising forbidden items.
Natural articles such as loose bark, bulbs, roots, fresh cut flowers and foliage cannot be sent in the mail, so if you run a green-fingered business then be aware of this, and take note of the previously mentioned restrictions on seeds.
Other items which make the prohibited list include cigars and cigarettes, chewing tobacco, photographic film - both developed and un-developed - and certain kinds of jewellery.
When it comes to fabrics, double check the cotton content; if it contains 85 per cent or more of cotton weight then it won't be allowed. You should also be careful when sending man made woven fabrics as restrictions also apply, and silk clothing is completely forbidden in the mail.
Once you have checked the contents of your parcel are safe to send, you'll need to package it up securely. It's advisable to choose a strong, sturdy box and close all opening firmly with parcel tape. Write the address clearly on the top with AUSTRIA in capitals. Once you have done this you can book your parcel in for collection and say so long, farewell and auf wiedersehen to your parcel.