APHIS Factsheet

Plant Protection and Quarantine October 2012

Information for 

Travelers Returning 

from Overseas Travel

Depending on the region or country from which you 

are traveling, you may be able to bring back certain 

agricultural products, including fruits, vegetables, 

meats, processed foods, plants, and handicraft items. 

Some agricultural items, however, are restricted—or 

even prohibited entry into the United States—in order 

to protect community health, preserve the environment, and prevent the introduction of devastating 

pests and diseases to domestic plants and animals. If 

they were to become established in the United States, 

invasive pests and diseases could devastate urban 

and rural landscapes and cost billions of dollars in lost 

revenue and eradication efforts. 

Together, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS) enforce these restrictions. USDA’s Animal and 

Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) establishes 

regulations concerning the admissibility of plant 

and animal products returning with travelers. DHS’ 

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and 

agriculture specialists are stationed at ports of entry 

and along land and sea borders. They enforce the 

laws and requirements of several Federal agencies, 

including APHIS. 

Travelers must declare all agricultural items to CBP 

officers or CBP agriculture specialists at the first port 

of entry. Failure to declare food products can result in 

up to $10,000 in fines and penalties. 

Generally Allowed Food Items

The following food items are generally allowed entry: 

•	 Condiments such as oil, vinegar, mustard, catsup, 

pickles, syrup, honey without honey combs, jelly, 

and jam

•	 Foodstuffs such as bakery items, candy, and 

chocolate

•	 Hard cured cheeses without meat, such as 

parmesan or cheddar

•	 Canned goods and goods in vacuum packed 

jars (other than those containing meat or poultry 

products) for personal use

•	 Fish or fish products for personal use

•	 Powdered drinks sealed in original containers 

with ingredients listed in English. However, 

admissibility is still under the discretion of CBP 

agricultural specialist.

•	 Dry mixes containing dairy and egg ingredients 

(such as baking mixes, cocoa mixes, drink mixes, 

instant cake mixes, instant pudding mixes, liquid 

drink mixes containing reconstituted dry milk 

or dry milk products, potato flakes, and infant 

formula) that are commercially labeled, presented 

in final finished packaging, and require no further 

manipulation of the product are generally allowed.

Even if the item appears on the above list, all food 

and agricultural products must be declared to a CBP 

agriculture specialist or CBP officer and must be 

presented for inspection.

Fruits and Vegetables

Travelers can check the general admissibility of fruits 

and vegetables by consulting APHIS’ Fruits and 

Vegetables Import Requirements (FAVIR) database 

at www.aphis.usda.gov/favir/. Simply select the type 

of fruit or vegetable in the “Approved Name” field and 

select the country of origin in the “Country/Region” 

field. You will receive one of the following results:

•	 “0 entries found” means the fruit or vegetable is 

NOT allowed into the United States

•	 “# entry(ies) found [followed by the name of the 

commodity and the name of the country]” If this 

text appears, click on “CIR” to view the commodity 

import report.

○ If the import requirements indicate “1 Subject 

to Inspection: This commodity is subject to 

inspection at the port of entry and all general 

requirements of 7 CFR 319.56-3,” then the fruit 

or vegetable is allowed into the United States 

pending inspection.

○ If the import requirements indicate “Condition 

of entry treatment,” then the fruit or vegetable 

is NOT allowed into the United States in 

passenger baggage.

Animal Products and Byproducts

Meat, milk, egg, poultry, and their products, including 

products made with these materials, such as dried 

soup mix or bouillon, are either prohibited or restricted 

from entering the United States, depending on the 

types of animal diseases that occur in the country 

of origin. Fresh (chilled or frozen), dried, cured, 

and fully cooked meat is generally prohibited from 
most countries. Canned meat is allowed entry, 

except beef, veal, lamb, mutton, venison, elk, bison, 

etc., from countries affected by bovine spongiform 

encephalopathy.

Products containing raw egg ingredients are prohibited 

from most regions.

Pork and pork products are not allowed from Mexico, 

except for cooked pork in small amounts for a meal.

Effective January 14, 2010, cooked pork skins (also 

known as pork rind) entering as commercial cargo 

or in passenger baggage from regions affected with 

foot-and-mouth disease, swine vesicular disease, 

African swine fever, or classical swine fever must 

be accompanied by an original veterinary certificate 

issued by an official of the national government of the 

region of origin.

Propagative Plant Material (Plants/Plant Parts for 

Planting)

Many plants may enter the United States from 

foreign countries, provided they meet certain entry 

requirements. Entry requirements vary by plant, but 

the following requirements universally apply: 

•	 If you bring back 12 or fewer admissible plants 

that have no special restrictions, you do not 

need a permit. Special restrictions may include 

requirements such as a permit, post-entry 

quarantine, treatment, or Endangered Species 

Act or Convention on International Trade in 

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 

documentation.

•	 Plants must be accompanied by a phytosanitary 

certificate from the country of origin showing that 

the plants meet entry requirements for the United 

States.

•	 Plants should be bare rooted (no growing media 

attached to the roots).

•	 You should perform a basic visual inspection of 

plants. Look for insects or sickly looking plant 

parts.

•	 Wrap plants in damp newspaper or similar material 

to prevent them from drying out. Roots may be 

secured in a plastic bag.

Twelve or fewer plants are inspected by CBP at the first 

port of entry. Thirteen or more plants will be inspected 

by APHIS personnel at the nearest plant inspection 

station. If the inspector finds plant pests that could 

cause harm to other plants, or if the plants do not meet 

entry requirements, they will be refused entry. This 

means you must forfeit the plants, which will either be 

destroyed or returned to the country of origin. 

Travelers are advised to consult with their nearest 

inspection station to determine the admissibility of 

propagative plant material (including live plants, bulbs, 

corms, cuttings, root crowns, seeds, etc.). For a list 

of inspection stations, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/

import_export/plants/plant_imports/plant_inspection_

stations_contd.shtml. 

Canadian Agricultural Products

For fruits and vegetables from Canada, consult the 

FAVIR database at www.aphis.usda.gov/favir/. 

Fruits and vegetables grown in Canada are generally 

allowed, if they have labels identifying them as 

products of Canada. Fruits and vegetables merely 

purchased in Canada are not necessarily allowed. 

For example, citrus or tropical fruits such as mangos, 

which can be purchased but not grown in Canada, are 

not admissible. 

Currently, potatoes from western regions of Canada 

are restricted because of a disease outbreak. While 

commercial imports are permitted under stringent 

guidelines, travelers from Canada should avoid 

bringing raw potatoes with them into the United States.

Food products from Canada, including pet food and 

fresh (frozen or chilled), cooked, canned or otherwise 

processed products containing beef, veal, bison, 

and cervid (e.g., deer, elk, moose, caribou, etc.) are 

now permitted from Canada in passenger baggage. 

Products containing sheep, lamb, or goat will not be 

allowed entry.

Travelers must provide proof of the origin of beef, 

pork, poultry, cervid meat, and pet food in order to 

bring them into the United States. Examples of proof 

of origin include the grocery store receipt where the 

product was purchased or the label on the product 

indicating the province in which it was packaged.

Additional Information 

Other than the above general guidelines, it is 

impossible to advise travelers about the admissibility 

of specific agricultural items because agricultural 

health risks and considerations are so susceptible to 

change. Disease and pest outbreaks that impact the 

admissibility status of agricultural items occur all over 

the world at any time. The simplest way to determine 

the admissibility of food and agricultural items is to 

declare all food and agricultural items to a CBP officer 

or CBP agriculture specialist at the first port of entry 

into the United States. 

If you have questions about importing a specific 

agricultural item into the United States, use the 
information below to contact an APHIS technical 

specialist: 

•	 For plants and plant products, including fruits and

 vegetables, call (301) 851-2046 or toll free at (877)

 770-5990, or email permits@aphis.usda.gov. 

•	 For soil, live plant pests, biological control agents,

 or noxious weeds, call (866) 524-5421, or email 

 pest.permits@aphis.usda.gov.

•	 For animal products or byproducts, call (301) 851-

 3300, or email AskNCIE.Products@aphis.usda.

 gov. 

In addition, APHIS’ Web site contains a wealth of 

useful information for travelers at www.aphis.usda.gov/

travel.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 

United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture