BajaNomad - Know before you go.

Know before you go.

elgatoloco - 3-25-2009 at 08:17 PM

Prohibited and Restricted Items

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/prohibited_r...

We were travelling down about every other weekend to our house on the beach and it would always be a mystery knowing exactly what one could and could not bring back. At one point about 10-11 years ago I found a complete list of items on the APHIS website that showed what food stuffs you could bring back. I found that pork was a no-no unless it was cooked and crispy, so we would stop at Flor de Michoacan and bring home the leftovers. I also found out that avocados were a no-no if they had the seeds, so we would go to farmers market/swap meet in Primo Tapia and buy avocados at $1.00 a kilo and peel and mush and put in zip locks and bring home and freeze for later use. The key was that I had printed out the regulations and kept a copy in the truck, several occasions I pulled it out and showed to inspector's when they questioned me on stuff. Things have changed and that list does not exist as it did and each department has it's own always eveolving list of prohibited items amd it can cahcnge at a moments notice and the final call is in fact left to the discretion of the inspector ultimately. I do know that you can no longer bring back avocados in any form into California and since we got Sentri the only thing we bring back anymore is TEQUILA and whole wheat buns!

dianaji - 3-26-2009 at 12:04 AM

elgatoloco,

then u know about sonrise bakery in rosarito where they have all that whole wheat pastry and bread?

Paulina - 3-26-2009 at 08:06 AM

Thank you Mateo for the link.

I questioned the pork rule one time. I wanted to bring back a piglet. In my opinion it wasn't considered a pork product until it was butchered. My reasoning didn't fly.

Miss you guys.
P<*)))>{

DENNIS - 3-26-2009 at 08:23 AM

It hasn't happened to me but, I've heard more than once that they confiscate dog food. Has anybody else heard that?

LB - 3-26-2009 at 08:50 AM

As far as dog food. I have had it taken at the airport along with dog treats.

DENNIS - 3-26-2009 at 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LB
As far as dog food. I have had it taken at the airport along with dog treats.

Did they say why?

David K - 3-26-2009 at 08:57 AM

Taking dog food: Mexico, not the U.S. , don't you mean?

LB - 3-26-2009 at 09:02 AM

Both sides have taken Dried Lamb Lung treats and jerky treats. We begged
to have one left to get the little Chihuahua back into his travel bag!

They have also taken homemade dog food made with oatmeal, vegs and Ground Pork.

It is because of the meat. This has only happened when we fly.

Timo1 - 3-26-2009 at 09:05 AM

We got a good scolding from US customs dude for bringing dog food...He let us go with it after telling us he would ASSUME it was made in USA
If either of the bags were open...he would have taken them

David K - 3-26-2009 at 09:08 AM

Pork is a big NO, NO... My U.S. Oscar Meyer sandwich slices in their original package (but opened) was confiscated... Now, only turkey based lunch meat goes!

DENNIS - 3-26-2009 at 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Taking dog food: Mexico, not the U.S. , don't you mean?

No. U.S. confiscation.

David K - 3-26-2009 at 09:22 AM

10-4, thanks... I don't have a dog, but wondered if it had more to do with the beef mad cow thing, going into Mexico. I thought I read that they took dog food at Guerrero Negro a while back??

elgatoloco - 3-26-2009 at 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dianaji
elgatoloco,

then u know about sonrise bakery in rosarito where they have all that whole wheat pastry and bread?

Yes we have been there. We also go to Pan Integral in TJ on Calle 10/Elias Calles which is conveniently located just across the street from La Playa liqour store. The bakery is attached to a small restaurant and mercado that caters to diabetics and other health concious types. The whole wheat pastries helps justify having two with your cafe in the morning. :dudette:

elgatoloco - 3-26-2009 at 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paulina
Thank you Mateo for the link.

I questioned the pork rule one time. I wanted to bring back a piglet. In my opinion it wasn't considered a pork product until it was butchered. My reasoning didn't fly.

Miss you guys.
P<*)))>{

You should have disguised the piglet as a baby bull mastif with a hair loss problem? :biggrin:

Let's go to Baja! :yes:

nancyinpdx - 3-26-2009 at 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Pork is a big NO, NO... My U.S. Oscar Meyer sandwich slices in their original package (but opened) was confiscated... Now, only turkey based lunch meat goes!

That's stupid and ridiculous. So we can't cross into the U.S. with cooked pork in a sandwich, tacos, or a lil bit of carnitas?! We're gonna cause diseases?!

Pescador - 3-26-2009 at 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nancyinpdx

That's stupid and ridiculous. So we can't cross into the U.S. with cooked pork in a sandwich, tacos, or a lil bit of carnitas?! We're gonna cause diseases?!

I used to think the same thing until I was crossing back in to the United States from Canada after leaving Alaska, and the agent there took a bunch of pre-cooked meals including hamburger patties, pot roast, and some other things and she explained to me that the problem was not germs but prions which are the nasty things that are not killed by cooking at 350 degrees. These are the things that are transmitted through things like animal feed, dog food, and yes frozen pre-cooked meals. It is those prions that have caused billions of damage in Colorado with Chronic Wasting Disease. It has also directly linked to Mad Cow disease, so the economic consequences of a simple little act like that can have major impact.
After my little lesson in Prions, I was at least satisfied to give up the things that I had and the agent was a true professional who was really sad to do the confiscation, but she had a job to do.

k-rico - 3-26-2009 at 08:21 PM

"The key was that I had printed out the regulations and kept a copy in the truck."

I once showed a print-out from the US Customs website concerning presriptions to a customs agent while walking across San Ysidro. He said "I don't care what the website says, I make the rules here."

Sure, OK, whatever.

He let me go with the goods.

nancyinpdx - 3-26-2009 at 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador

Quote:

Originally posted by nancyinpdx

That's stupid and ridiculous. So we can't cross into the U.S. with cooked pork in a sandwich, tacos, or a lil bit of carnitas?! We're gonna cause diseases?!

I see the logic of that but meant it would be for the meal to be consumed on the flight (from San Diego to Oregon cuz I take late afternoon or evening flights and never eat anything at all before I leave and get hungry if there is no meal on the plane or I don't buy a meal at the expensive airport) but I know if it's out for 2 hours we can get sick, although not super likely.
Oh well, at least we know now. I have had severe dangerous food poisoning and once it nearly killed me. I wrote about it a while back on Lonely Planet Thorn Tree's health branch, responding to a thread asking what it's like to be sick abroad.

Thanks for the good detailed explanation.

Bajahowodd - 3-26-2009 at 11:55 PM

Maybe some times people are too honest. With all the knowledge provided by the government website, fact is that when an agent asks if you have anything to declare, perhaps a response of "no" might suffice. Think about it. What is the percentage of vehicles sent to secondary? If you go there, probably, you will be required to relinquish certain stuff. Fines and jail time are extremely remote. So maybe it's not smart to provide an oral inventory at the booth.

nancyinpdx - 3-27-2009 at 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Maybe some times people are too honest. With all the knowledge provided by the government website, fact is that when an agent asks if you have anything to declare, perhaps a response of "no" might suffice. Think about it. What is the percentage of vehicles sent to secondary? If you go there, probably, you will be required to relinquish certain stuff. Fines and jail time are extremely remote. So maybe it's not smart to provide an oral inventory at the booth.

I walk accross at San Ysidro and they have never searched my stuff. They just xray everything.

Dog Food ?

MrBillM - 3-27-2009 at 10:23 AM

I remember "some" people on this thread saying that the U.S. was confiscating CANNED Dog Food during the "Contaminated in China" period. Because some of my cache was on the list, I brought it back to return and there was no problem so it might have been another instance of local option.

Regarding PORK, I once brought back the remainder of a Farmer John Ham Shank. Since ALL of those are COOKED Hams, I argued and LOST.

Also lost some ALL-BEEF Brats once, but on another trip, I was told they were OK if the package hadn't been opened.

Whatever.

David K - 3-27-2009 at 05:07 PM

Pork is the 'dirty meat' afterall (right Dave?)... anyway, that's the deal... NO PORK.

What was funny is an agent sent me to secondary at Tecate not so long ago when I told him I had a few limes (limes are permitted)... and I said they were allowed, but the young buck agent said thet "limes are like oranges... and oranges aren't allowed"

LOL! He wasn't nasty at all... We pulled up to secondary, the agent saw the tag and read it... and said "LIMES?!?"

... "Get out of here! LOL" and we were on on way home, limes and all! :lol:

Here is the government list blown up from 2001ish:

[Edited on 3-28-2009 by David K]

woody with a view - 3-27-2009 at 06:44 PM

"We also go to Pan Integral in TJ on Calle 10/Elias Calles which is conveniently located just across the street from La Playa liqour store."

can someone give DETAILED directions coming from the north? i'd like to stop by the La Playa next time down. :light: