Baggage Inspection Required for Travelers Going 

From Puerto Rico to the U.S. Mainland 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal 

and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) prohibits 

or restricts the movement of many agricultural products 

from Puerto Rico to the U.S. mainland. These products 

include certain pork and pork products, most fresh fruits 

and vegetables, and certain types of plants and flowers. 

That’s because these items could harbor a dangerous 

stowaway—an invasive pest or disease. Just one piece 

of fruit or a single plant that is carrying an invasive pest 

or disease could cause millions of dollars in damage, 

expensive eradication efforts, and lost trade revenue. 

To prevent the spread of invasive pests and diseases, 

APHIS inspects all passenger bags moving from 

Puerto Rico to the U.S. mainland at the airport prior to 

your departure. Please be prepared to open and close 

your own bags. If you have any fresh fruits or vegetables, 

plants, flowers, souvenirs made from plants or wood, pork 

products, or other agricultural products with you, please 

tell the inspector. Failure to declare these items can result 

in delays and possible issuance of civil penalties ranging 

from $100 to $1,000 per violation. In addition, if you wish 

to ship or mail agricultural items that are allowed into the 

U.S. mainland, they must be inspected and/or certified by 

APHIS before you take them to an airline cargo office, the 

post office, or other courier service. 

Agricultural Items From Puerto Rico Allowed into the U.S. Mainland After Inspection

n Allium spp. (includes 

onion, garlic, and 

chives) 

n Amaranth, Amaranthus

spp. (leaf, stem) 

n Anise 

n Annona spp. (leaf) 

n Arracacia xanthorrhiza

n Arrowroot 

n Artichoke, Jerusalem 

n Asparagus 

n Avocado 

n Baked goods containing 

pork or pork products 

(including those 

cooked in lard) that are 

commercially packaged 

and labeled and are 

shelf stable without 

refrigeration

n Balsam apple 

n Bamboo shoots 

n Banana (fruit, leaf 

without stalk or midrib) 

n Basil 

n Bay leaves, laurel 

n Beans, shelled (faba, 

lima, string) 

n Beans, in pods (faba, 

lima, string)—have 

geographic restrictions. 

For more information, 

please contact USDA’s 

offices using the 

telephone numbers 

listed on next page.

n Beet 

n Bitter melon 

n Brassica oleracea

(includes cabbage, 

broccoli, brussels 

sprouts, cauliflower, 

kale, and collards) 

n Breadfruit, 

Artocarpus spp. 

n Breadnut 

n Cacao bean pod 

n Canned pork meat/meat 

products

n Cannonball fruit 

n Cantaloupe 

n Carrot 

n Cassava 

n Celery 

n Chamomile, Anthemis

spp. 

n Chayote 

n Chervil 

n Chickory 

n Chinese waternut 

n Chrysanthemum spp. 

(leaf, stem) 

n Cilantro 

n Citrus, fresh fruit 

(grapefruit, orange, 

lemon, lime) 

n Coconut (without husk) 

n Collard 

n Corn (on the cob only) 

n Cornsalad, 

Vallerianella spp. 

n Cucumber (includes 

Angola cucumber, 

Sicania odorata) 

n Cyperus corn 

n Dandelion greens 

(leaf, stem) 

n Dasheen, Colocasia, 

Caladium spp., and 

Xanthosoma spp. 

n Eggs 

n Eggplant 

n Endive 

n Ethrog (fruit) 
n False coriander 

n Fennel 

n Flowers (fresh, cut, 

or dried) 

n Genip 

n Ginger root 

n Gourd 

n Guava (leaf) 

n Herbs (dried or cured) 

n Honeydew melon 

n Horseradish, 

Armoracia spp. 

n Indigo, Indigofera spp. 

n Insects (dried or preserved) 

n Jackfruit 

n Kale 

n Kudzu—if not seed, 

tuberous roots, or stems 

with node (must not be 

capable of propagation)

n Lambsquarter 

n Lemongrass, 

Cymbopogon citratus 

n Leren 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 

APHIS 81-45-018 | Revised December 2021

Agricultural Items From Puerto Rico Not Allowed 

into the U.S. Mainland

n Cactus 

n Citrus and citrus-related 

plants

n Citrus leaves (fresh)

n Cotton, cotton cuttings 

n Fruits (fresh)—all fruits 

are prohibited except 

those on preceding list

n Handicrafts made from 

Palm fronds

n Insects (live) 

n Pigeon Peas (fresh)

n Plants in soil

n Lettuce 

n Lily bulb, edible 

n Lotus root 

n Maguey 

n Mangosteen 

n Marjoram, Origanum

spp. (leaf, stem) 

n Mint, Mentha spp. 

n Mushrooms 

n Mustard greens 

n Oregano, Origanum spp. 

(leaf, stem) 

n Palm heart 

n Papaya 

n Parsley 

n Parsnip 

n Pepper 

n Peas, Pisum sativum (in 

pod or shelled) 

n Pet birds1

n Pineapple 

n Plantain (fruit, leaf 

without stalk or midrib) 

n Plant cuttings and plants 

without soil 

n Pokeweek greens (leaf, 

stem) 

n Potato 

n Pumpkin 

n Purslane 

n Radish 

n Rhubarb 

n Rosemary (leaf) 

n Rutabaga 

n St. John’s bread 

n Salsify 

n Savoy 

n Snail shells (if empty 

and thoroughly cleaned) 

n Sorrel, Rumex spp. 

n Spinach 

n Squash 

n Stinking-toe (pod) 

n Strawberry 

n Sweet potato (leaf only) 

n Swiss chard 

n Tamarind bean pods 

n Taro, Colocasia and 

Caladium spp. 

n Tarragon 

n Thyme 

n Tomato 

n Truffle 

n Turnip 

n Vegetable marrow 

n Water chestnut 

n Watercress 

n Watermelon 

n Yam, Dioscorea spp. 

n Yautia (tanier), 

Xanthosoma spp. 

Note: Commercially canned 

and thoroughly cooked 

foods are permitted. 

Thoroughly cooked pork 

and pork products must be 

commercially packaged and 

labeled and shelf stable 

without refrigeration. All 

permissible agricultural 

products are subject to 

inspection.

n Pork and pork products 

not listed above

n Seed cotton and 

cottonseed 

n Snails (land) 

n Seeds or nuts (pulpy) 

n Soil 

n Sugarcane 

n Turmeric (Curcuma 

longa)

n Sweet potato 

n Vegetables (fresh)—

all vegetables are 

prohibited except those 

on preceding list

For More Information 

Lists are subject to change. For the most up-to-date 

information, call the USDA office at the airport: 

Aguada: (787) 986-7280

Aguadilla: (787) 931-7900

Carolina: (787) 710-7282, (787) 710-7443, 

 or (787) 710-7339

Ponce: (787) 709-4957 

San Juan: (787) 919-0585

For more information, please visit APHIS’ website at 

www.aphis.usda.gov/travel. 

1 Entry requirements vary depending on the origin of the bird. For details, 

 visit www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel.