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Re: swiss-list: Rules regarding Food imports into the US?

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Re: swiss-list: Rules regarding Food imports into the US?

From: Terry Fong <click for textversion of email address >
Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2004 23:11:04 +0200

  Prior Notice of Imported Foods
  http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~pn/pnoview.html

  Prior Notice of Imported Food
  Questions and Answers
  http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~pn/pnqaguid.html

  Compliance Policy Guide
  Guidance for FDA and CBP Staff
  Prior Notice of Imported Food Under the Public Health Security and
  Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002
  (FDA=Food and Drug Administration, CBP=Customs and Border Protection)
  http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~pn/cpgpn.html

In general, it is NOT forbidden to bring food (including chocolate!) with
you when traveling to the US, as long as such food is for "personal use"
(consumption or gift giving). Also, it is NOT forbidden to mail food that
you make YOURSELF at home. From the "Questions and Answers" page:

  Prior notice is not required for:

  a. Food for an individual's personal use (i.e., for consumption by the
     individual, family, or friends, and not for sale or other
     distribution) when it is carried by or otherwise accompanies the
     individual when arriving in the United States;

  b. Food that was made by an individual in his/her personal residence and
     sent by that individual as a personal gift (i.e., for non-business
     reasons) to an individual in the United States;

  c. Food that is imported then exported without leaving the port of
     arrival until export; and

  d. Meat food products, poultry products, and egg products that are
     subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of
     Agriculture (USDA) at the time of importation. (21 CFR 1.277(b)).

However, prior notice IS required if you mail food that you did not make at
home (e.g., purchased chocolate):

  If the food was made by an individual in his/her personal residence and
  sent by that individual as a personal gift (i.e., for non-business
  reasons) to an individual in the United States, prior notice is not
  required (21 CFR 1.277(b)(2)). Other food products sent as gifts are
  subject to the prior notice requirement (21 CFR 1.277). FDA recognizes
  that, in these circumstances, the sender who purchased the food as a gift
  may not have the manufacturer/producer registration number. Thus, the
  sender can use the name and address of the firm that appears on the
  label. A registration number need not be provided (21 CFR 1.281(a)(6)).

Prior notice must be submitted electronically through the FDA:

  http://www.access.fda.gov

Cheers,

Terry Fong

_______________________________________________________________________________
 "The two most common elements in the Terry Fong <terrence.fong_at_epfl.ch>
  universe are hydrogen and stupidity." Inst. de production et robotique
                   -- anon. Swiss Fed. Institute of Technology
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Received on Mon Feb 02 2004 - 16:12:20 PST

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