food items taken out of France
Mar 14th, 2004, 05:51 AM
#2
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France would not care what you take out of there, but the US have strict, confusing and frequently-changing rules. It doesn't matter whether you're coming back from France or other countries. Here's a webpage:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/travel/usdatips.html
In general, fresh fruits (especially citrus) and fresh meats are almost never okay. I usually don't have problems with other food items.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/travel/usdatips.html
In general, fresh fruits (especially citrus) and fresh meats are almost never okay. I usually don't have problems with other food items.
Mar 14th, 2004, 07:50 AM
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when you are coming back and they ask you or if they ask you if you have meat or fruit products and they find any on you, you are in big trouble. they even have food sniffer dogs for ferreting out any food stuffs. most prepered foods are fine and as rkkwan said meats and fruits are almost always a no-no. at christmas i took mustards, tepanades and olive oil.
Mar 14th, 2004, 08:19 AM
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Some agricultural inspection areas now have a very sophistsicated scanner that can detect organic material in your luggage; so be warned. To speed things up, we put any food items (olive oil, tapenade, tomato sauces, pistou, etc.) in just one bag, which the inspectors always want to go through.
What you canNOT bring in is meat products, fresh or canned or whatever, which includes sausage. Ditto for most cheeses, fresh fruit, and other produce. You CAN bring in the wonderful French chocolates, including the kinds filled with liqueurs; jams; teas; and other good gift items.
What you canNOT bring in is meat products, fresh or canned or whatever, which includes sausage. Ditto for most cheeses, fresh fruit, and other produce. You CAN bring in the wonderful French chocolates, including the kinds filled with liqueurs; jams; teas; and other good gift items.
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Mar 14th, 2004, 08:19 AM
#8
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A recent law has prohibited the importation of pâté and other tinned meats, so don't try to bring those back. If you bring back any foods at all, be sure to note that on your landing form. You'll be sent to the Ag people, who will tell you what you can and cannot keep. Oranges and other fruits are a definite NO!
Mar 14th, 2004, 08:30 AM
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Heed what Jay says about the sniffer dogs. Of course I had to bring home a box of Laduree pastries whhich I was barely able to fit into my backpack. I made the mistake of saying on my declaration card that I didn't bring back food (I didn't consider pastries as food stupidly). Anyway, the sniffer dog, a cute beagle, was on the job while I was waiting for my baggage. He tagged quite a few people nearby and they had to show if/what they had in their carryon bags. Then of course he found me so he tagged my backpack. The agent asked if I had food and I said "no", then I was asked if I used my backpack at any time overseas to carry any food. No, I didn't carry any food in my backpack at any time. So the agent opened up the pack and found just the box of pastries. Then she just informed me of my mistake.
Anyway, the dogs are very good at their jobs so be careful no to bring back any food item that's considered illegal.
Anyway, the dogs are very good at their jobs so be careful no to bring back any food item that's considered illegal.
Mar 14th, 2004, 11:15 AM
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Wanting to bring back some foodstuffs from a trip -- understandable.
Blatant lying to the USDA about fresh fruit -- reprehensible.
Not thinking to declare a backpack crammed-full of pastries as food -- selective memory.
rkkwan has given you the site you need to find the answer to your question.
Blatant lying to the USDA about fresh fruit -- reprehensible.
Not thinking to declare a backpack crammed-full of pastries as food -- selective memory.
rkkwan has given you the site you need to find the answer to your question.
Mar 14th, 2004, 11:38 AM
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The list of products that are allowed on USDA's website is interesting:
I can bring garlic cloves back only if they are peeled. ???
I see that chocolates is not listed, but candies are allowed. Are chocolates considered candies?
My friend recently brought back several cans of foie gras. Is that a no-no?
Anyhow, never lie to the customs officials. I always check the "YES" box for food on the customs form when I bring good back. On my last 6 trips, I never got asked what "food" items I brought and never searched.
I can bring garlic cloves back only if they are peeled. ???
I see that chocolates is not listed, but candies are allowed. Are chocolates considered candies?
My friend recently brought back several cans of foie gras. Is that a no-no?
Anyhow, never lie to the customs officials. I always check the "YES" box for food on the customs form when I bring good back. On my last 6 trips, I never got asked what "food" items I brought and never searched.
Food is food regardless it's cooked, canned, or a pastry!
Mar 14th, 2004, 11:55 AM
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On our last trip to Germany we brought back a 5 liter mini keg of beer. We duct taped the spout. We had not problem, just had to redistribute the weight between our suitcases a little. My husband was thrilled to have his favorite beer, as its not available in the U.S. yet.
Mar 14th, 2004, 05:20 PM
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Beat me over the head with 8 Pain au Chocolats, 2 Pain au Pommes and 2 Large Baguettes all in ziplock bags.....lol
That is what I brought home 3 weeks ago from Paris. We will see how many I bring back after this week.
That is what I brought home 3 weeks ago from Paris. We will see how many I bring back after this week.
Mar 14th, 2004, 07:12 PM
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On our recent trip to Paris, we brought foie gras back. Didn't get checked, wasn't asked.
One thing one should know is that there are three different US agencies at the arrival. The person who looks at your customs form first is from INS, not customs, not agriculture. If he/she doesn't think what you bring should be looked into, regardless whether you check "Yes" or "No" with food items, you usually won't get checked again. The customs person just take the declaration form and that's it. And you won't see an USDA agent at all.
One thing one should know is that there are three different US agencies at the arrival. The person who looks at your customs form first is from INS, not customs, not agriculture. If he/she doesn't think what you bring should be looked into, regardless whether you check "Yes" or "No" with food items, you usually won't get checked again. The customs person just take the declaration form and that's it. And you won't see an USDA agent at all.
Mar 14th, 2004, 07:37 PM
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If you know what food items are legal to bring into the US (like people mentioned above) and you stick to those, you won't have any problems. And if you do bring in more alcohol than is allowed, and you have to pay the duty, the taxes aren't that bad compared to losing your items because you didn't declare them in the first place.
As rkkwan stated, there are three agencies you are dealing with. Immigration and Naturalization checks your passport and questions you regarding your entry/reentry to the US, but I have to disagree with rkkwan on Customs. Maybe its where we are here in Detroit, (and recently had a similar experience in Boston) but the Customs agents that we have run into don't just take our forms. We normally get questioned (albeit usually short), and if we have declared food on our form they then send us to the Department of Agriculture for further questions / inspection.
Only problem I ever had was some sausage purchased in France (which I declared). They took the meat product and sent us on our way, saying the meat had to be incinerated. With a wink the agent did note that the wine we had declared was OK though (all 22 bottles between 2 of us).
And speaking of those beagles - last year my carry-on backpack got hit on by a beagle even though I had no food items / fruit in it (couple of bottles of wine along with some trip crap). The USDA agent asked if I had carried fruit in the backpack - I had, about 24 hours earlier I had one apple in the bag, for about 4 hours. THATS how sensitive those dogs are to those illegal items. AND later, I saw the same guy and beagle make a score. They caught someone trying to bring in apples and pears, which they did not declare, and denied having. I asked what would happen, the agent told me it would be about a hundred bucks for each fruit item that they found, since they were so adamant about NOT having any food items to declare.
As rkkwan stated, there are three agencies you are dealing with. Immigration and Naturalization checks your passport and questions you regarding your entry/reentry to the US, but I have to disagree with rkkwan on Customs. Maybe its where we are here in Detroit, (and recently had a similar experience in Boston) but the Customs agents that we have run into don't just take our forms. We normally get questioned (albeit usually short), and if we have declared food on our form they then send us to the Department of Agriculture for further questions / inspection.
Only problem I ever had was some sausage purchased in France (which I declared). They took the meat product and sent us on our way, saying the meat had to be incinerated. With a wink the agent did note that the wine we had declared was OK though (all 22 bottles between 2 of us).
And speaking of those beagles - last year my carry-on backpack got hit on by a beagle even though I had no food items / fruit in it (couple of bottles of wine along with some trip crap). The USDA agent asked if I had carried fruit in the backpack - I had, about 24 hours earlier I had one apple in the bag, for about 4 hours. THATS how sensitive those dogs are to those illegal items. AND later, I saw the same guy and beagle make a score. They caught someone trying to bring in apples and pears, which they did not declare, and denied having. I asked what would happen, the agent told me it would be about a hundred bucks for each fruit item that they found, since they were so adamant about NOT having any food items to declare.
