Declarations Must for Agro
Entry into US, Failure May Result in Confiscation
1.
Travelers must declare agricultural items
Anyone entering the United States must declare:
o
meats,
o
fruits,
o
vegetables,
o
plants,
o
seeds,
o
soil,
o
animals,
o
and related products.
2.
Rules protect U.S. agriculture and environment
Restrictions exist to prevent:
o
plant pests,
o
foreign animal diseases,
o
and environmental damage that could harm U.S.
crops, livestock, and the economy.
3.
CBP agriculture specialists inspect items
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists inspect declared
agricultural products at airports, seaports, and border crossings.
4.
Declaration required for all baggage and vehicles
Travelers must declare covered items carried in:
o
checked luggage,
o
carry-on bags,
o
and vehicles.
5.
Question 11 on CBP Form 6059B must be completed
honestly
Travelers should check “Yes” if carrying agricultural items or if they visited
farms or livestock areas abroad.
6.
Undeclared prohibited items are confiscated
Agricultural products not declared may be seized and destroyed by CBP
officials.
7.
Failure to declare can lead to fines
Civil penalties may reach:
o
up to $1,000 for first-time non-commercial
violations,
o
significantly higher amounts for commercial
violations.
8.
Rules also apply to international mail
The same agricultural restrictions and penalties apply to prohibited products
shipped by mail.
9.
Some fruits and vegetables may be allowed
Certain produce items can enter if:
o
declared,
o
inspected,
o
and found pest-free.
10.
Plants for growing often require certificates
Propagative plant materials generally require:
·
advance permits,
·
and foreign phytosanitary certificates from the
exporting country.
11.
Many meat products are prohibited
Fresh, dried, and some canned meats are restricted due to risks such as:
·
Foot-and-Mouth Disease,
·
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy.
12.
Products containing restricted meat ingredients may
also be banned
Items such as soup or broth containing restricted meat ingredients can be
prohibited.
13.
Hunting trophies and animal products face strict
controls
Animal carcasses, hides, and trophies require permits and special approvals.
14.
Live animals and birds are highly regulated
Imports may require:
·
permits,
·
health certificates,
·
inspections,
·
and quarantine procedures.
15.
Biological materials require permits
Organisms, cultures, vaccines, antibodies, and related biological materials are
subject to strict permitting and inspection.
16.
Soil importation is tightly restricted
Soil or earth generally cannot enter the U.S. without advance USDA permits
because soil can carry dangerous organisms.
17.
Travelers returning from farms may undergo extra
inspection
Shoes, clothing, and vehicles may need cleaning or disinfection to remove
contaminated soil.
18.
Pure decorative sand is usually allowed
Small amounts of clean decorative sand may enter after inspection.
19.
Rules can change frequently
Restrictions vary depending on outbreaks of plant or animal diseases around the
world.
20.
Canada and Mexico receive some special treatment
Many agricultural products from Canada and Mexico are permitted, though some
items still require permits or remain prohibited.
21.
Certain Mexican fruits require permits
Products such as:
·
mangoes,
·
oranges,
·
guavas,
·
cherimoya,
·
and apples
may require permits before entry.
22.
Processed Mexican avocados may be allowed
Peeled, halved, seedless avocados from Mexico packed in liquid or vacuum-sealed
containers may enter subject to inspection.
23.
USDA and CBP provide import guidance resources
Travelers can obtain updated rules from:
·
United States Department of Agriculture,
·
and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
If you’ve
had food, plants or souvenirs taken away by an inspector at an international airport,
border crossing, or seaport, we want you to understand the reasons.
Certain items
brought into the United States from foreign countries are restricted according to
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations. Prohibited agricultural items
can harbor plant pests and foreign animal diseases that
could seriously damage America’s crops, livestock, and the environment – and a large
sector of our country’s economy.
All travelers entering the United States are Required to
Declare meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animals, as well
as plant and animal products (including soup or soup products) they may be carrying.
The declaration must cover all items carried in checked baggage, carry-on luggage,
or in a vehicle.
Upon examination
of plants, animal products, and associated items, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) agriculture specialists at the ports of entry will determine if these items
meet the entry requirements of the United States. Always Declare agricultural
items by checking “Yes” on Question 11 of the CBP Declaration Form 6059B. Also check
“Yes” if you have been on a farm or in close proximity of livestock, as an agriculture
specialist may need to check your shoes or luggage for traces of soil that could
harbor foreign animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth.
Avoid Fines
and Delays
Prohibited
items that are not declared by passengers are confiscated and disposed of by CBP
agriculture specialists. More importantly, civil penalties may be assessed for failure
to declare prohibited agricultural products and may range up to $1,000 per first-time
offense for non-commercial quantities. If the items are determined to be for commercial
use, violations will be assessed at a much higher rate. The same fines apply to
prohibited agricultural products sent through international mail.
General Guidelines:
Fruits, Vegetables,
and Plants
Depending
on the country of origin, some fruits, vegetables, and plants may be brought into
the United States without advance permission, provided they are declared, inspected,
and found free of pests. However, certain plants and ANY plant parts intended for
growing (propagative) require a foreign phytosanitary certificate in advance. For
information on certificates, contact the USDA/APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine
Permit Unit at (301) 851-2046 or (877) 770-5990 Also, check the Information
Resources section at the end of this notice for details.
Meat and Animal
Products and Byproducts
Many fresh,
dried, and some canned meats and meat byproducts are prohibited entry into the United
States from foreign countries because of the continuing threat of foot-and-mouth
disease (FMD), bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or mad cow disease), and other
animal diseases. If meat from restricted countries is included as an ingredient
in a product (e.g., beef broth), the product is usually prohibited.
Because regulations
concerning meat and meat byproducts change frequently, travelers
should contact the consulate or local agricultural office in the country of origin
for up-to-date information on the disease status of that country.
Animal hunting
trophies, game animal carcasses, and hides are severely restricted. To find out
specifics and how to arrange to bring them into the United States, contact USDA/APHIS
Veterinary Services, National Center for Import and Export
(NCIE) at (301) 851-3300, via email at: APIE@usda.gov or VS-Live.Animals_Import.Permits@aphis.usda.gov or on the Web at Veterinary Services - Safeguarding
Animal Health (Import/Export). The import and export of wild (and endangered) animals
is regulated by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). For a list of endangered species check the following:
http://www.cites.org.
Live Animals
and Birds
Live animals
and birds may enter the United States subject to certification, certain permits,
inspection, and quarantine rules that vary greatly with the type of animal and its
origin and can also be subject to restrictions by some state departments of agriculture.
For general
information and permit application, contact APHIS/ NCIE at (301) 851-3300. Contact the CDC via e-mail at CDCAnimalImports@cdc.gov. You may also
access the National Center for Infectious Diseases on
the Web - Traveler's
Health.
Other Biological
Materials
A strict permitting
process governs most organisms, cells and cultures, antibodies, vaccines and related
substances, whether of plant or animal origin. Biological specimens of plant pests,
in preservatives, or dried, may be imported without restriction, but are subject
to inspection upon arrival in the United States. This is done to confirm the nature
of the material and to make sure it is free of “hitchhiking” plant pests or diseases.
These items must ALL be declared and presented for inspection upon entering the
United States. For information and a permit application, contact NCIE: APIE@usda.gov or VS-Live.Animals_Import.Permits@aphis.usda.gov or on the Web at Veterinary Services - Safeguarding
Animal Health (Import/Export).
Soil, Sand
and Minerals
Soil-borne
organisms threaten both plants and animals. If you visited a farm or ranch in a
foreign country, agricultural specialists may have to examine and disinfect your
shoes or clothing. Vehicles must also be cleaned of any soil. No soil or earth of
any kind is allowed into the United States without a permit issued in advance by
USDA Plant Protection and Quarantine Permit Unit. Pure sand, such as a small container
of decorative beach sand, is usually allowed. Always check with the permit unit
in advance for details.
Please - Do
Your Part to Help Protect American Agriculture
When planning
your trip, keep in mind that regulations change frequently around the world, depending
on outbreaks of plant and animal diseases. So, whether or not the item in question
seems to be one that is permitted, travelers are still
responsible for declaring those items and presenting them for inspection upon returning
to the United States.
DECLARE all
agriculture-related products when entering the United States. General List of
Approved Food and Plant Products
Products from
Canada and Mexico
Many products
grown in Canada or Mexico are allowed to enter the United States. This includes
many vegetables and fruits; however, seed potatoes from Canada currently require
a permit and fresh tomatoes and bell peppers are prohibited from Canada. Additionally,
stone fruit, apples, mangoes, oranges, guavas, sopote,
cherimoya and sweet limes from Mexico require a permit. Avocados from Mexico that
are peeled, halved and have the seed removed are enterable if in liquid or vacuum-packed
but are subject to inspection.
Information
Resources for Travelers
U.S. Customs
and Border Protection (CBP) currently collects import duties, carries out immigration
inspection and clearance of passengers and carries out inspection and clearance
of agricultural items (in commercial and passenger areas) at U.S. ports of entry.
This website contains a wealth of information on both import and export regulations
and requirements for many items and commodities. From the site’s home page, click
on “Questions” and search the database for answers on a specific topic, or click
on the “Imports”, “Exports” or “Travel” section for detailed information. APHIS-PPQ
Permit Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, can provide information about import
requirements and permits for plants, plant parts, fruits, vegetables, and other
agricultural items. Call the unit at(301) 851-2046 or(877) 770-5990, or visit the web at Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service.