vandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 538
Registered: 10-10-2003
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Legal to bring beermaking ingredients?
I've never bothered to hide anything I bring down to Baja, but 120 pounds of malted barley and a trash bag full of fresh hops might draw a little
attention.
The man at the brew supply place in Mesa, AZ, told me that I should declare the stuff on the way down...would that just be drawing attention to a
restricted hobby?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65408
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I once brought a big Costco bag of beans into Mexico (donation for a orphanage)... and later learned that was illegal... but, no problems at border. I
am just telling you since any bulk food/ grain that isn't for personal use on your vacation could be suspect. Bringing used clothes for orphans is
also illegal... etc.
If you have a home in Mexico and naturally an FM-3 visa, that may not be a problem at all... But how many tourists make beer on their vacation?
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vandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 538
Registered: 10-10-2003
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Thanks David. I never bothered with an FM-3. Just FMT. Despite being almost permanent...
Even when I get The Red Light, they don't usually search me. I think I'll declare it as "soup ingredients" if they ask me.
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Taco de Baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1913
Registered: 4-14-2004
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain, CA
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Mood: Dreamin' of Baja
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"A trash bag full of fresh hops....."
Let's hope they don't think that's some other green flower. 
Barley soup is good cover for the grain though; especially if you have a 7 gallon stockpot for cooking the mash.....I mean, "soup". 
Truth generally lies in the coordination of antagonistic opinions
-Herbert Spencer
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gatopelon
Newbie
Posts: 9
Registered: 11-21-2009
Location: Alvarado Ca
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Mood: lovin retirement!!
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I've learned in my travels to Beautiful Mexico on hauling items in and avoiding duty charges. I was hauling a large quantity of surfboard wax in for
the kids of the San Blas surf team. I was going around and around with this lady customs inspector for an hour as to the value of the surfboard wax.
When a male customs inspector who had been watching this go on I guess long enough walked over and whispered in my ear If you say the items are for a
donation, you will always run into problems. But if tell them...... "It's a gift".
It works every time!
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Bajajorge
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2604
Registered: 10-13-2005
Location: Topaz Lake, NV/San Felipe
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If you're going into competition with Tecate and Modelo, you'll probably have a problem.
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gatopelon
Newbie
Posts: 9
Registered: 11-21-2009
Location: Alvarado Ca
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Mood: lovin retirement!!
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No competition here, I'm a die hard Pacifico guy.
\"Nothing dollarable is safe\"
John Muir
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