International gifts: Which items are not safe to bring back to U.S.?International gifts: Which items are not safe to bring back to U.S.?
Both food items and other agricultural-based items (things like plants, seeds and gifts made from wood or plants) from other countries can carry pests and diseases not found here.
December 20, 2018

Source: USDA
With the help of Santa Claus and his crew, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is reminding international visitors this holiday season to check out the agency’s new traveler information web page. The site, launched in September 2018, provides everyone with important information about which agricultural items are safe to enter the United States – and which ones are best left behind.
“As we are in the overall season of family, feasting and gift-giving, we are thrilled to hear directly from Santa’s elves that the big man himself was comparing his gift list to our requirements,” says U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “We thank Santa for setting a great example of thoughtful and responsible gift giving. We know he always does his part by getting a movement permit for his reindeer to enter the U.S., but this year he’s going above and beyond to help protect our farmers, ranchers and citizens.”
Both food items and other agricultural-based items (things like plants, seeds and gifts made from wood or plants) from other countries can carry pests and diseases not found here in the United States. For these reasons, certain items are not allowed to be carried in by travelers. Other items may be allowed with specific documentation. USDA’s new site helps everyone looking to bring an agricultural gift from overseas know what is okay to bring back. After all, no one wants to spend time or effort picking the perfect gift if you can’t bring it to the person you are buying it for.
Pork and pork products from other continents are prohibited from entry into the U.S. to prevent the potential introduction of foreign animal diseases such as African swine fever, foot and mouth disease, classical swine fever and swine vesicular disease. According to a 2014 article in BonAppetit, on an average day U.S. Customs finds 440 pests and seizes 4,379 items across air, sea and land borders. Digging into three years of data from the agency, the publication found pork products were the items that get confiscated the most.
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