Authorities from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have reiterated the importance of complying with restrictions on certain agricultural products when entering the country. The agency has established strict measures to prevent the spread of diseases and pests that could affect local agriculture. Fines for violating these regulations can reach up to $10,000, according to a press release from authorities.
“Travelers are prohibited from bringing fresh eggs, raw chicken, or live birds into the U.S. from Mexico,” border officials emphasized at the end of February.
The announcement comes amid a significant increase in the amount of prohibited food brought by travelers from Mexico. At the San Diego Field Office alone, agents have seen a 158% increase in egg interceptions since fiscal year 2024.
“CBP urges travelers to be aware that certain agricultural products, including raw eggs from Mexico, are prohibited from entering the United States.
Undeclared items may be subject to fines,” officials explained.
Agriculture specialists from CBP play a crucial role in inspecting products crossing U.S. borders. Their job involves analyzing and detecting any items that could pose a risk to the country’s agricultural security. These restrictions aim to prevent the introduction of diseases and pests that could have a devastating impact on crops and the agricultural economy.
Violating these regulations can result in substantial financial penalties, which can reach up to $10,000. These penalties are intended to deter travelers from attempting to bring in restricted products without declaring them.
Sidney Aki, director of CBP Field Operations in San Diego, explained that keeping the traveling public informed is essential “to safeguard our agricultural industry,” while also facilitating legitimate trade and travel.
Statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, as of March 19, showed that an avian flu outbreak affected millions of domestic birds in the country, triggering a chain reaction that drove up egg prices.
The outbreak, considered the worst on record, serves as a reminder of how human activities (transporting birds and avian products) contribute to disease transmission.
“Items such as dirty bird cages or used egg cartons can spread diseases, including virulent Newcastle disease,” CBP officials added.
However, travelers may bring permitted food from Mexico into the United States through a passenger port of entry only if it is for personal consumption. Items imported for commercial purposes, such as resale or distribution, must be imported “properly through a cargo facility.”
The importance of following these guidelines lies in the fact that certain prohibited agricultural products can harbor foreign pests and animal diseases capable of severely damaging U.S. crops, livestock, or the environment, as well as “a large sector of the national economy.”
“All travelers entering the U.S. must declare meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animals, as well as plant and animal products (including soups and their derivatives) they are carrying,” according to CBP agents in the agricultural products section of the agency’s official website.
Any undeclared products will be confiscated and disposed of by CBP specialists, and civil penalties may be imposed, which can reach up to $1,000 for first-time violations.
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