Adventure Land Travel
Discount Travel Vacations
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Adventure Land Travel
Discount Travel Vacations
|
|
Adventure Land Travel
|
Travelers are often surprised when told
that their “one little piece of fruit or meat” can cause serious damage. In
fact, one prohibited item carelessly discarded has the potential to wreak havoc
on American crops. For example, it’s quite likely that a traveler carried in the
wormy fruit that first brought the Mediterranean fruit flies to California. The
fight to eradicate this pest still costs America taxpayers millions of dollars
each year.
And, although there hasn’t been a case of foot-and-mouth
disease in the United States since 1929, the threat of this disease from
countries outside the U.S. remains. A single link of sausage contaminated with
the dreaded virus could devastate the U.S. livestock business. Economists agree
that an outbreak today would cost farmers and consumers billions of dollars in
lost production, higher food prices, and lost export markets.
Personal passenger baggage is checked for
agricultural products by officers from USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program.
At some
ports, inspectors use Detector Dogs, specially trained to sniff out agricultural
items. At others, low energy x-ray machines adapted to reveal fruits and meats
are used. In an average month, inspectors confiscate thousands of items. Always
DECLARE to the inspectors everything you have that could be classified as an
agricultural product. An inspector can then determine whether that item is
prohibited or is allowed entry.
The declaration you are required to make
may be oral, written or both. If you’re traveling from abroad on a plane or
ship, you will be given a U.S. Customs form on which to declare your
agricultural products. You will also be asked to indicate whether you have
visited a farm or ranch outside the United States. Why? Soil from other
countries could harbor all kinds of pests, diseases, or both, and that soil
could be stuck on your shoes, on garden tools, bicycle tires, or other
areas!
Prohibited items that are not declared by passengers are confiscated. But that’s not all. Civil penalties may be assessed for violations, and now, with recent increases, may range up to $1,000 for a first-time offense. Depending on whether confiscated, undeclared items are intentionally concealed, or determined to be for commercial use, civil penalties may be assessed up to $50,000 for individuals. The same fine applies to illegal agricultural products sent through the mail.
Depending on the country of origin, you
may bring in some fruits, vegetables, and plants without advance permission,
provided they are declared, inspected, and found free of pests. However, certain
plants and any plant parts intended for growing (propagative material) require a
permit in advance. For information on permits, contact the USDA/APHIS/PPQ Permit
Unit. See the Information Resources section at the end of this notice for
details.
Meat and Animal Products
Fresh, dried,
or canned meats and meat products are prohibited entry into the United States
from most foreign countries, because of the continuing threat of foot-and-mouth
disease. If meat is used in preparing a product, it is also usually prohibited.
Because regulations concerning meat and meat products change frequently,
travelers should contact the consulate or local agricultural office in the
country of origin (see U.S. Department of State section of the Resources
section) for up-to-date information.
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). The Department of the
Interior’s US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) regulates the import and export of
wild and endangered animals and plants and their products. More information is
available in the FWS free publications, “Facts About Federal Wildlife Laws” and
“Buyer Beware Guide.”
Live Animals and Birds
Live
animals and birds may enter the United States subject to certification, certain
permits, inspection, and quarantine rules that vary with the type of animal and
its origin.
Pet birds purchased abroad for personal use may enter,
subject to restrictions by some state departments of agriculture. Quarantine
arrangements must be made in advance because facilities are limited. For
information and a permit application, contact APHIS’ NCIE (see Resources
section).
Valid veterinary health certificates are required in many
instances; fees and waiting times vary. In addition, the US Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) regulate importation of certain animal species and
have specific regulations regarding pets (including cats and dogs) and nonhuman
primates. Importation for scientific or exhibition purposes is strictly
controlled through a registration process. Contact the CDC (see Resources
section) for detailed information.
Other Biological
Materials
A permit is required to bring in most organisms, cells
and cultures, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, and related substances, whether
of plant or animal origin. This category includes organisms and products used in
the biotechnology industry. For information and a permit application, contact
NCIE or PPQ’s permit unit. Biological specimens of plant pests, in preservatives
or dried, may be imported without restrictions but are subject to inspection
upon arrival in the United States. This is done to confirm the nature of the
material and make sure they are free of “hitchhiking” plant pests or diseases.
These items must all be declared and presented for inspection.
Soil, Sand, Minerals, and
Shells
Soil-borne organisms threaten both plants and animals. As
mentioned previously, if you visited a farm or ranch overseas, agricultural
inspectors may have to disinfect your shoes or clothes. 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 PPQ’s permit unit. Pure sand, like
a small container of decorative beach sand, is allowed. Always check with PPQ’s
permit unit in advance to find out if a permit is required.
Of course. When planning your trip abroad,
look over the general list of approved products that follows. Keep in mind that
this list is not all inclusive, and that regulations change frequently,
depending on outbreaks of plant and animal diseases in various parts of the
world. So, whether or not the item in question appears on the “approved” list,
you are still responsible for declaring to a federal inspection officer every
agricultural product in your possession.
If you leave the United States
with any U.S. agricultural products, note that you may not be allowed to bring
them back in when you return to the country. If you’re unsure of what’s allowed,
call for help. Check the phone book for the nearest office of USDA, APHIS, PPQ,
or call PPQ’s central office at 301-734-8645. If your question is specific to
animals or animal products, contact NCIE. U.S. consulates abroad may also be
able to answer many of your questions. APHIS’ Web site http://www.aphis.usda.gov
contains information on many related topics. Every effort is made to keep the
information current.
General List of Approved
Products (as of January, 2003)
Aloe vera (above ground
parts)
Bat nut or devil pod (Trapa bicornis)
Breads, cakes, cookies, and
other bakery goods
Candies
Cannonball fruit
Chinese water
chestnut
Coffee (roasted beans only)
Fish
Flower bulbs *
Fruits,
canned
Garlic cloves (peeled)
Lily bulbs (Lilium spp.)
Maguey
leaf
Matsutake
Mushrooms
Nuts (roasted only)
Palm hearts
(peeled)
Sauces, canned or processed
Seaweed
Seeds *
Shamrocks,
without roots or soil
St. John’s Bread
Singhara nut (Trapa
bispinosa)
Tamarind bean pod
Truffles
Vegetables, canned or
processed
Water chestnut (Trapa natans)
*Check with the consulate or
agricultural office in the country of origin to confirm that your item conforms
to the above general list.
Predeparture Inspection is required for
passengers traveling from Hawaii to the
mainland; Puerto Rico to the
mainland, and from the U.S. Virgin Islands to the
mainland. Use these links to access detailed
information on those areas.
Products from Canada and
Mexico
Many products grown in Canada or Mexico
are allowed to enter the United States. This includes most vegetables and
fruits; however, seed potatoes from Canada currently require a
permit.
Note: Fruits, vegetables, meats or birds taken from the United
States to Mexico may not be allowed to re-enter. Consult in advance with APHIS
inspectors.
All permissible agricultural products are still subject to
inspection.
USDA-APHIS-PPQ’s Permit
Unit can provide information about import requirements and permits for
plants, plant parts, fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural
items.
Contact:
USDA, APHIS
Plant Protection and Quarantine
4700
River Road, Unit 136
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236, Attention: Permit
Unit
www.aphis.usda.gov
Or
Look in your local phone book for
the nearest office of USDA, APHIS, PPQ, or call the central office at
877-770-5990 or 301-734-8645.
USDA-APHIS-Veterinary Services’
National Center for Import and Export (NCIE) can provide information
about importing live animals and animal products.
Contact:
USDA,
APHIS
Veterinary Services
4700 River Road, Unit 40
Riverdale, MD
20737-1231
Attn: National center for Import and
Export
Or
301-734-7830 or on the web,
www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie
The US Customs Service
collects import duties and assists the US Public Health Service in regulating
the importation of dogs, cats, monkeys, and birds.
Contact:
Customs
Services
P.O. Box 7407
Washington, D.C. 20044 or visit www.customs.ustreas.gov
The
US Department of State issues passports for US citizens to
travel abroad. Consular officers overseas issue visas for foreign citizens to
enter the United States. Passport agencies are located in various cities around
the country. Check listings in your local phone book or with a US embassy or
consulate abroad. For recorded travel information, call 202-647-5225. Also check
their web site at http://travel.state.gov
The US Fish and Wildlife Service regulates the import
and export of wild and endangered plants and animals and their related
products.
Contact:
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Office of
Management Authority
4401 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22203 or their
web site, www.fws.gov
The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regulate importation of
certain animal species and have specific regulations regarding pets (including
cats and dogs) and nonhuman primates.
Contact:
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
Division of Quarantine
1600 Clifton Road, Mail Stop
E-03
Atlanta, GA 30333
404-639-8107; fax 404-639-2599; www.cdc.gov/travel.