Fifteen countries have banned mailing mooncakes, the traditional Chinese food for the Mid-autumn Festival, according to eastday.com.

Some other countries have restricted postal services involving mooncakes, the Website reported.

The 15 countries banning the mailing of mooncakes from China are France, Germany, Thailand, Sweden, Columbia, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Burundi, Gabon, Ethiopia, Sudan, Libya and Myanmar.

Chinese people living in these countries will not be able to enjoy the traditional delicacy this year. A newspaper in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province, said France was one of the countries with many local students. Parents usually posted mooncakes during the festival to their children studying abroad.

"So far we have had to reject a few," said an official with the Wuhan Post Bureau. "We suggest parents don't post mooncakes to foreign countries this year."

Some countries, although accepting mooncakes by post, have stipulated that the cakes should not contain pork or yolk. Others say the recipient has to provide an import permit, the newspaper said.

(Shanghai Daily September 5, 2008)