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International Traveler: Milk, Dairy,

and Egg Products

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The United States restricts or prohibits the entry of many agricultural products,

which can carry foreign pests and diseases that harm American agriculture and our

environment. Help us keep American agriculture healthy by following the guidance

on this page about products you may want to bring into the United States.

Travelers entering the United States must declare

all agricultural or wildlife products.

Travelers entering the United States must declare all agricultural or wildlife products

to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. You must also tell them if you visited

a farm or were in contact with animals before traveling to the United States.

U.S. agricultural inspectors will examine your items to be sure they meet entry

requirements and do not harbor harmful foreign pests or diseases. U.S. inspectors

have the authority to make a final determination about whether your products can

enter the country. We recommend that you keep receipts and original packaging of

agricultural products as proof of their country of origin.
As long as you declare all of the agricultural products you are bringing

with you, you will not face any penalties—even if an inspector determines

that they cannot enter the country.

Milk, Dairy, and Egg Products that You CAN and

CANNOT bring back to the United States

Milk and Dairy Products

Most milk and dairy items from countries with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) are not

allowed.  To find out a country’s status for FMD, visit our animal disease status

 page.

There are three exceptions:

Liquid milk and milk products for infants or small children are allowed in small

quantities (enough for several days’ use)

Products containing powdered or dry milk (baby/infant formula, baking mixes,

soup mixes, drink mixes) are allowed in small quantities, if they are properly

labelled.

Commercially-packaged and labelled, cooked, shelf-stable, fully finished food

items in unopened packages are allowed.

Travelers may bring back milk or dairy products from countries without FMD if they

have official documentation to prove the product’s country of origin.  The following

items are considered official documentation: package label; written documentation;

proof of travel (passport or travel itinerary); origin of flight; receipt of sale; CBP

document (based on the officer’s interview of the traveler); a meat inspection

certificate; or certificate of origin.

Exemptions

Certain items may enter from any country.  These include:

Butter

Butter oil
Solid hard or soft cheeses (as long as the cheese does not contain meat or pour

like a liquid i.e. ricotta or cottage cheese)

Camel Milk

Please contact us directly regarding the requirements for camel’s milk.

Breast Milk

USDA does not regulate breast milk.  Please contact the Food and Drug

Administration at 301- 796-0356 or www.fda.gov for more information.

Eggs and Egg Products

USDA does not allow travelers to bring back most eggs or egg products from

countries affected with certain serious poultry diseases:

Highly pathogenic avian influenza

Virulent Newcastle disease

To find out a country’s status for these diseases, visit our animal disease status

page.

There are two exceptions:

Commercially-packaged and labelled, cooked, shelf-stable, fully finished food

items from affected countries that are in unopened packages are allowed.

Cooked eggs or egg products from affected countries will be inspected by U.S.

Customs & Border Protection.  Items appearing to be “thoroughly cooked

throughout” will be allowed entry.  Items that do not appear “thoroughly

cooked throughout” will not be allowed without special certification and an

import permit.  

Travelers may bring back fresh or preserved eggs from countries without these

diseases if they have official documentation to prove the product’s country of

origin.  The following items are considered official documentation: package label;

written documentation; proof of travel (passport or travel itinerary); origin of flight;

receipt of sale; CBP document (based on the officer’s interview of the traveler); a

meat inspection certificate; or certificate of origin.
Egg Shells

Egg shells (with egg white and egg yolk removed) may enter in passenger baggage

if they are decorated/etched/painted.  They must be clean and dry, and passengers

may not bring back more than 12 per person.

Moon Cakes

There are specific requirements for moon cakes entering in passenger baggage:

Moon cakes that do not contain meat, egg or egg yolk may enter.

Moon cakes containing egg or egg yolk that appear “thoroughly cooked

throughout” are allowed.

Moon cakes containing egg or egg yolk that do not appear “thoroughly cooked

throughout” are not allowed.

Moon cakes that contain meat are not allowed.

Need Help?

Use the Veterinary Services (VS) Permitting Assistant to understand

import requirements for animal products. This self-guided tool has the most

updated and comprehensive information, based on the type of materials you want to

bring in and the intended use.

Please note that commodities intended for "personal use" mean those in passenger

baggage or passenger vehicles. Commodities sent by mail are regulated as

"commercial" use.