BajaNomad

approved list of imports

Terry28 - 1-18-2014 at 11:21 AM

I tried the search feature...no luck..can somebody point me to the list of approved fruits, veggies and meats that can be brought back from Mexico? Thanks in advance...

David K - 1-18-2014 at 11:28 AM

This is the list the border guards used to hand out... it is about 10 years old, but is probably still the same? However, the new batch of border guards may not know them! I declared my limes (permitted), but the 'new' officer said since limes are like oranges (LOL) he sent me to secondary (where after 15 min. wait, the ag agent laughed and sent me on my way). Now, I don't bring any food back.




[Edited on 1-18-2014 by David K]

Terry28 - 1-18-2014 at 11:31 AM

Thank you David!! I will let you know how it goes next week.

David K - 1-18-2014 at 11:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Terry28
Thank you David!! I will let you know how it goes next week.


You bet... and they are very anal about any pork, like even if the Farmer John hot dogs or sandwich slices are in their U.S. package. Your only hope is if it is unopened. We switched to turkey based sandwich meat in case we had leftovers.

No eggs, no raw chicken, and even if it is permitted you are still supposed to declare it all... If it is a lot, you will go to secondary. Just give excess food to the boys at the military checkpoints heading home or ??? The grief these new inspectors give isn't worth the extra food coming back home.

elgatoloco - 1-18-2014 at 11:40 AM

I have been crossing the border for nearly 40 years. Lots of things changed. Used to carry with me a 70 page print out from customs that listed details (i.e. fresh/uncooked pork NO - pork cooked crisp YES-whole avaocados NO - guacamole YES) so I could show it to the "public servant" at the border when they tried to confiscate things like my left overs from Flor De Michoacan or the 20 pounds of avocados we had mashed into guac and put in baggies for Super Bowl party. That list no longer exists in that form and even then it was sometimes moot based on the fine print "at the discretion of the officer" like when they took a bucket of beach rocks that had some sand on them because the nice officer told me straight faced "how do i know that is really sand and not drugs" or the time we got sent to secondary on a Wednesday and were threatened with jail and a HUGE fine, even though we declared EVERYTHING as usual, for bringing back limes just like we had on Monday but did not know that Tuesday they changed the rule because a med fruit fly was found in Santa Clarita.

Anyhoo, since getting Sentri ten years ago we only bring back tequila, bakery goods and a few other things. The rest we give away to whomever. Did I mention our last northbound crossing took 90 seconds?

Viva Sentri!

YMMV


https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/82/session/L3Rp...

Udo - 1-18-2014 at 11:42 AM

Just my 2 centavos:

I was busted when secondary went through my portable freezer in September for bringing back pre-packaged salami, which I bought in the US.

elgatoloco - 1-18-2014 at 11:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Udo
Just my 2 centavos:

I was busted when secondary went through my portable freezer in September for bringing back pre-packaged salami, which I bought in the US.


How many have heard the "it loses its citizenship when it crosses into Mexico" line............sheesh :lol:

DavidE - 1-18-2014 at 12:16 PM

Why let guacamole from avocados from Uruapan, Michoacan in? Jeemaneez, you are robbing California avocado farmers (what a hell of a lobby these guys have!) from selling their two dollar each fruit.

David K - 1-18-2014 at 12:48 PM

If anyone here could ask the border guard or Secondary officer for a NEW list (like the one I posted a close up of), it would be greatly appreciated. I will post it on Nomad as well. Thank you!

Bajaboy - 1-18-2014 at 01:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
If anyone here could ask the border guard or Secondary officer for a NEW list (like the one I posted a close up of), it would be greatly appreciated. I will post it on Nomad as well. Thank you!


David, I got a similar one last year so my guess it that is has not changed. My wife thought I was going to get arrested as I continued to query the officer in Secondary. My boiling point was when the officer suggested that I was lying about where I bought the meat. I kept saying Costco Mission Valley and I think he finally realized his mistake but still made me throw it away (he said everything was on camera so he had to follow through).

My frustration is that it's always a moving target. We rarely bring anything back now. It's not worth the hassle.

List

J.P. - 1-18-2014 at 01:46 PM

They will gladly provide you with the latest list of prohibited articles.
When we cross north our refrigerator is always empty and turned 0ff. they always ask why? and we reply we don't need the hassle and they present us with a new list.
Going south they rarely ever look and its always full of our favorite Treats we can't find down here.:lol::lol:

David K - 1-18-2014 at 01:53 PM

Zac or J.P., if you have the latest list would you please email a scan of it to me so I can share it here? Thanks, email is: info*at*vivabaja.com

Hook - 1-18-2014 at 02:24 PM

I've asked for The List and been told that the internet list that El Gato posted is the one they want you to use because it is always changing.

They have always told me that I must declare ALL agricultural and animal products I am carrying, not just the ones mentioned on their website.

David K - 1-18-2014 at 02:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
I've asked for The List and been told that the internet list that El Gato posted is the one they want you to use because it is always changing.

They have always told me that I must declare ALL agricultural and animal products I am carrying, not just the ones mentioned on their website.


Here is the Mexico link off that government site from El Gato Loco: https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/manual/index.cfm?NEW=1&R...

It requires you click each of the (looks like) 100+ items to see the details for importing... a bit user unfriendly.

Here is the note for the CBP officer on sour limes:

Noncommercial, land-border consignments, subjected to 100 percent inspection, are admissible into the U.S. on a small scale for personal use. The fruit must be free of leaves, stems, and foliage.

[Edited on 1-18-2014 by David K]

Jack Swords - 1-18-2014 at 02:42 PM

TurkeyHAM was taken from us last year because it had the name -ham in it. This year we will have no food when crossing.

Hook - 1-18-2014 at 02:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Udo
Just my 2 centavos:

I was busted when secondary went through my portable freezer in September for bringing back pre-packaged salami, which I bought in the US.


It's always better to hide your salami.

Jack Swords - 1-18-2014 at 02:48 PM

Actually DavidE, Mexican avocados are commonly found in grocery stores in CA, particularly when the CA Hass crop has its seasonal reduction. Properly inspected there is no problem, but look at the Citrus Greening effects in Florida and the draconian regulations and restrictions being place on citrus.

David K - 1-18-2014 at 02:51 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Jack Swords
TurkeyHAM was taken from us last year because it had the name -ham in it. This year we will have no food when crossing.


It's as if everyone in the federal government are idiots now!:lol::?::rolleyes:

Kgryfon - 1-19-2014 at 01:03 AM

Would this pass???

Pacifico - 1-19-2014 at 08:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajaboy
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
If anyone here could ask the border guard or Secondary officer for a NEW list (like the one I posted a close up of), it would be greatly appreciated. I will post it on Nomad as well. Thank you!


David, I got a similar one last year so my guess it that is has not changed. My wife thought I was going to get arrested as I continued to query the officer in Secondary. My boiling point was when the officer suggested that I was lying about where I bought the meat. I kept saying Costco Mission Valley and I think he finally realized his mistake but still made me throw it away (he said everything was on camera so he had to follow through).

My frustration is that it's always a moving target. We rarely bring anything back now. It's not worth the hassle.


We had a similar experience... We came back north with an unopened package of carnitas (US labeled, from Costco) and it was confiscated. The lady agent told me she could fine me $300 for me not declaring it. She took it and we were on our way. Much easier to just give away any left over food than get hassled by an agent.

Hook - 1-19-2014 at 08:27 AM

LOL!!! Sell any leftover, unopened Costco food to gringos living down there! It will be gone in a jif!

brewer - 1-19-2014 at 08:41 AM

Last year it was an avocado. He let me scoop it out, skin and seed is not allowed. Next trip they found an apple we forgot to eat on the drive. We were in big trouble. They found a couple eggs too, good thing they were hard boiled. Have you ever seen them spin test your eggs to see if they are raw or cooked? Serious stuff here. So now I'm on a third strike watch. One more violation and I get a $300.00 ticket. So now we bring back nothing, not even liquor. I've found when you have nothing and declare nothing, you don't end up in secondary.

durrelllrobert - 1-19-2014 at 09:19 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
This is the list the border guards used to hand out... it is about 10 years old, but is probably still the same? However, the new batch of border guards may not know them! I declared my limes (permitted), but the 'new' officer said since limes are like oranges (LOL) he sent me to secondary (where after 15 min. wait, the ag agent laughed and sent me on my way). Now, I don't bring any food back.




[Edited on 1-18-2014 by David K]


Anyone have a similar list of prohibited items for bringing into Mexico? In particular are you prohibited from bringing in plants, potting soil, fertilizer, etc?

David K - 1-19-2014 at 09:34 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
This is the list the border guards used to hand out... it is about 10 years old, but is probably still the same? However, the new batch of border guards may not know them! I declared my limes (permitted), but the 'new' officer said since limes are like oranges (LOL) he sent me to secondary (where after 15 min. wait, the ag agent laughed and sent me on my way). Now, I don't bring any food back.


Anyone have a similar list of prohibited items for bringing into Mexico? In particular are you prohibited from bringing in plants, potting soil, fertilizer, etc?


That's what I have asked for Bob... egl gave a web site and in it I found the page for Mexico: Here is the Mexico link off that government site from El Gato Loco: https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/manual/index.cfm?NEW=1&R...

I am still hoping someone has that single sheet list but a new one.

weebray - 1-19-2014 at 11:55 AM

I reiterate, you can bring back all the dead fish you like.

Riom - 1-19-2014 at 03:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Terry28
can somebody point me to the list of approved fruits, veggies and meats that can be brought back from Mexico?


There's a comprehensive list of all permitted foods (updated Nov 2013) at:
bringing food into the US

For much of the fruit and veg they just refer you to the FAVIR system mentioned above, here's the
list for Mexico. Clicking on each link will tell you if an import permit is needed for that item.

Rob


[Edited on 2014-1-19 by Riom]

Bajafun777 - 1-19-2014 at 08:19 PM

Well, Terry just do as I do and give it to the cleaning lady that way it gets used and gone. I just do not want to take any chance of losing my Sentri. Thus, I check and double check to make sure my wife/navigator that travels with me hasn't packed anything that can cause me to lose it! She loves fruit and hates to throw it away. She tries to tell me about the list but I tell her a dang banana is not worth my card. Usually, our refrigerator is full even when we try to use it up before our departing day from Las Gaviotas, but our cleaning lady has never complained especially since I leave an empty Styrofoam chest for you keepers. LOL See you in June and Nomads if you ever want a nice place to rent with great views then Terry28 has just what your mind imagined. Take Care & Travel Safe-----"No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN" bajafun777