Before travelling to the United States it is important to check what is in your luggage. Some things that are perfectly legal to buy and carry in one country can be prohibited or restricted on entry to the United States.
American customs services pay particular attention to food, plants, seeds, meat, animals and products of animal origin. The restrictions exist not only to protect people's health but to stop the spread of pests and diseases that threaten American agriculture.
It is important to tell prohibited goods from restricted ones. A restricted item can sometimes be brought in if certain conditions are met, if you hold a permit, or after an inspection by a specialist.
Food
Food is what raises questions for travellers most often. Many products are allowed, but some categories have to be declared and inspected.
Agricultural goods include not only fresh produce but some processed products of animal or plant origin. The rules can depend on the country you are arriving from, because the requirements change with the disease and plant-health situation.
Before travelling, check particularly carefully:
- meat and meat products;
- poultry;
- fresh fruit and vegetables;
- dairy products;
- eggs;
- plants and seeds;
- products containing ingredients of animal or plant origin.
Do not go by the principle that “if it was bought in a shop, it can be brought in”. Even factory packaging is no guarantee that an item is admissible.
Meat and meat products
The rules on meat are particularly strict. Whether it can be brought in depends, among other things, on the country the product comes from or was processed in, and on the disease situation in that country.
The USDA notes that the rules on meat can change because of outbreaks of animal disease. Some kinds of meat product from certain countries are prohibited; others may be allowed if the origin can be confirmed and further requirements are met. So sausage, smoked meat, dried meat and other meat products should not simply be put in a suitcase.
Fruit and vegetables
Fresh fruit and vegetables are goods that must be declared. Many of them may be prohibited, or admitted only if certain requirements are met. The reason is that insects, larvae, plant diseases and other pests can enter the United States along with plant products.
The country of origin of the product matters a great deal. The same fruit can face different requirements depending on where it is coming from. The USDA has databases for checking a particular item, where you can look up the requirements by product and country of origin.
Plants, seeds and soil
Plants and seeds also fall into the category of goods with heightened restrictions. Some kinds can be brought in only if special requirements are met, and certain items are prohibited.
Ordinary soil deserves a mention of its own. Bringing soil from foreign countries into the United States is prohibited, because it can carry pests and the agents of plant disease.
So do not carry in your luggage:
- soil from a garden or allotment;
- plants with soil on their roots;
- seeds of unknown origin;
- certain kinds of planting material.
Dairy products and eggs
Milk, cheese, eggs and other products of animal origin may also be subject to restrictions. Whether a particular item is admissible depends on what it contains, where it comes from and the current veterinary requirements. So even familiar products that a traveller wants to bring for personal use are best checked in advance.
Some products with a low plant-health or veterinary risk — certain baked goods, sweets, chocolate and some cheeses, for example — can usually be allowed. But there are exceptions, so the final decision is made on entry.
Pets and products of animal origin
If you are travelling with an animal, you cannot simply put it in a carrier and fly to the United States. Different species have their own requirements.
Restrictions can also apply to products of animal origin:
- animal feed;
- treats;
- hides;
- bones;
- feathers;
- hunting trophies;
- other parts of animals.
Some live animals and products of animal origin may be prohibited or may require permits and veterinary documents. If you are planning to bring a pet, it is best to check the requirements in advance, before you even buy the ticket.
Medicines
With medicines the situation is a little more complicated. The fact that a medicine is sold without prescription in your country does not mean it can be brought into the United States without hindrance. Particular care is needed with medicines that contain controlled substances or ingredients regulated by American law.
If you take medicines regularly, it is sensible to carry them in their original packaging and to have documents showing that the medicine was prescribed to you, especially if it is a prescription drug. For any particular medicine you have to check the current requirements of the relevant American authorities.
Alcohol and tobacco
Alcohol and tobacco products cannot be treated as entirely free of regulation. Besides the federal requirements, individual states may impose restrictions of their own. Tax and other rules may apply when alcohol or tobacco is carried.
So if you are bringing a significant quantity of alcohol or tobacco, check the requirements in advance, not only those of the federal authorities but those of the state you are travelling to.
Weapons and ammunition
Bringing weapons into the United States is regulated far more strictly than ordinary personal possessions. Depending on the type of weapon, the country of origin, the traveller's status and the purpose of importing it, special permits and additional documents may be required.
CBP states separately that importing firearms and ammunition may require additional forms and procedures connected with ATF requirements. So weapons, ammunition and related items cannot simply be put in luggage without checking the requirements first.
Cultural property and antiques
Paintings, archaeological objects, antiques and other cultural property may also be subject to restrictions. The difficulty may lie not only in bringing the object in but in proving that it was lawfully obtained. In some cases documents will be needed showing the purchase and the lawful export from the country of origin.
If you intend to carry antique objects, works of art or archaeological finds, it is best to check the requirements in advance. Wildlife and products made from it. Separate rules apply to animals, plants and products made from protected species.
This can cover:
- trophies;
- hides;
- bones;
- articles made from rare animals;
- certain kinds of plants;
- other wildlife objects.
Such goods may require permits, and some categories are prohibited altogether.
Why prohibited products have to be declared
One of the most important pieces of advice is not to hide food or agricultural goods from the customs inspector. If you are not sure whether a particular product is allowed, it is safer to declare it. CBP and the USDA state that a declared agricultural item may be inspected, and if the inspector decides it cannot be brought in, the item can be surrendered at the border.
No penalty is normally applied for the act of declaring a prohibited agricultural item. An undeclared prohibited item, on the other hand, can lead to seizure and a civil penalty.
What happens to a prohibited item
If the inspector decides that a particular item cannot be admitted to the United States, it may be seized, or the traveller may be offered the chance to give it up voluntarily.
Agricultural goods that have been surrendered or seized are destroyed under the set procedures, to stop pests and diseases spreading. So there is no sense in taking a risk over a small packet of food or a plant.
What to do before you travel
The import rules depend not only on the type of item but sometimes on the country it comes from. On top of that, the requirements can change because of new outbreaks of animal or plant disease.
Before travelling it is best to:
- check the particular item on the official CBP and USDA websites;
- keep the original packaging and label;
- have receipts or documents showing where the item came from;
- declare agricultural and animal products;
- not carry soil or questionable plant material;
- check the requirements for medicines, animals and weapons in advance.
The USDA advises keeping receipts and the original packaging of agricultural goods, because they help inspectors establish the country the product came from.
When entering the United States it is best to follow a simple rule: if you are in any doubt whether a particular item can be brought in, do not hide it and check the requirements in advance.
The greatest attention should go to meat, dairy products, eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animals and products of animal origin. Many such goods are not prohibited outright, but they do have to be inspected and may be restricted depending on where they come from.
The final decision on admitting an item at the border is taken by the inspector concerned, so even checking in advance is no guarantee of automatic permission to bring it in.
End of the article.
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